As voice-activated devices transition from homes to classrooms, dozens of teachers now lead spelling practice, present history lessons and interact with their students in new ways.

ECS Learning Systems' new STAAR MASTER Score Guarantee will ensure Texas teachers and schools see STAAR performance improvements year over year. The program initially supports grades 3 through 8 for reading and math using both the STAAR MASTER student practice books and practice tests.

Sphero launched Specdrums, the STEAM learning brand's first music-focused product. The musical, app-enabled rings empower kids of all ages and skill levels to create and play music by using colors on a variety of surfaces as their instruments.

State Schools Superintendent Steve Paine supports a one-time pay incentive for educators who aren't certified to teach math, but are teaching it anyway, to increase their math education skills, and for elementary school teachers to also improve their math pedagogy. Last school year, only about 37 percent of tested public school students scored as at least “proficient” in math, and the proficiency percentage for high school juniors was only 29 percent.