We know this year has been anything but typical for educators. It’s been marked by uncertainty, from massive changes at the federal level to economic disruptions to looming questions about artificial intelligence and instruction. With schools sitting at the nexus of all this, we also think it’s an important moment for recalibration. What might we be able to learn collectively from the upheaval? And how can these lessons drive education’s future?
The contributors to the 2025 Big Ideas special report offer both reported essays and opinion pieces detailing how political mechanisms might affect what happens in the classroom, key instructional considerations for AI, opportunities for immediate academic wins, the future of science education, and more. Many of the questions they raise are new, some perennial—but they all speak to the specific moment we are in.
We hope you’ll find this coverage helpful as you approach the challenges of a new school year and plan for the future.
This project is part of a special report called Big Ideas in which EdWeek reporters, the EdWeek Research Center, and contributing researchers ask hard questions about K-12 education’s biggest challenges and offer insights based on their extensive coverage and expertise.
📢 Let us know what you think by connecting with us on social using #K12BigIdeas or by emailing bigideas@educationweek.org.
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