2025 Education Insights

10 of the hottest topics in education for 2025

As we step into 2025, education continues to transform at a rapid pace, driven by technological innovations, evolving student needs, and shifting workforce demands. Education leaders, administrators, and teachers face both exciting opportunities and significant challenges in adapting to these dynamic changes—here are 10 of the education topics that experts have identified as big players in 2025.  

You probably already guessed this first one—yep, it’s AI. Interest in artificial intelligence for educational purposes has grown dramatically, with search volume growing 20x over 5 years. Whether you’re analyzing data, creating lesson plans, improving accessibility, differentiating instruction, or using it as a supplemental tutor, there are hundreds of applications for AI chat programs and education-specific AI tools.

Expect a continued flood of insights and opinions on uses for both teachers and students— and on how to mitigate AI’s drawbacks, such as cheating, increased screentime, and “hallucinations” (errors and misinformation). We’re also likely to see several new specialized AI tools released for educators.  

Read more about how educators are using AI to support their teaching. 

Hybrid learning is solidifying its position as a fundamental component of education rather than just a pandemic-era necessity, especially in higher ed. Education leaders should take note that by 2025, more than half of higher education institutions plan to grow their hybrid learning offerings, as reported in a recent McKinsey & Company analysis. The overwhelming student satisfaction with virtual learning—93% according to BestColleges.com—signals that administrators must prepare for online education to become a lasting focus in modern academics. 

This shift has significant implications for institutional planning, from infrastructure investments to staffing models. Schools are discovering that hybrid approaches not only offer cost efficiencies but also create new opportunities for students and teachers alike. Education professionals should anticipate a continued evolution in the implementation of hybrid learning. Administrators should prepare for increased demand for flexible teaching arrangements as educators seek to balance in-person and remote work, and as institutions benefit from access to a broader pool of specialized instructors across different regions and time zones.  

Education leaders should pay close attention to the growing demand for alternative credentials and career-focused education pathways, with students increasingly prioritizing flexible, affordable pathways that offer clear routes to employment. Education Dynamics reports significant growth in certificate programs, as Spring 2024 saw a roughly 10% increase in graduate certificates and close to 4% growth in undergraduate certificates. 

Career and technical education (CTE) is continuing to grow as a particularly promising area for educational institutions to expand their offerings. The data show that CTE programs not only boost high school graduation rates by 10% in contrast to non-CTE students, but also result in over 75% of participants pursuing higher education after graduation, according to Edmentum. This suggests an opportunity to develop stackable credentials and industry-aligned certifications that serve both traditional students and returning learners.  

Read more about positive impacts of participation in CTE. 

Data analytics for educational decision making can extend beyond basic performance tracking to encompass predictive modeling, personalized learning experiences, and resource optimization. For education leaders, the challenge lies not just in collecting data but in making it actionable. Success in 2025 will depend on institutions’ ability to implement practical data leadership approaches, provide adequate staff training in data analysis, and develop systems that deliver real-time insights in easily understandable formats for both student achievement and institutional efficiency. Consider prioritizing breaking down data silos and establishing clear protocols for using analytics. 

Read more about our work supporting effective data collection and analysis here. To learn about building data literacy and developing effective data systems in your district or school, explore Marzano Research’s School Improvement practice area and related services. 

The education sector faces a critical challenge heading into the new year, with teacher retention and recruitment reaching crisis levels. For example, EdWeek research shows a concerning trend with 54% of teachers saying they are thinking about leaving their teaching career in the next two years. The shortage is particularly acute in specific areas, with the U.S. Department of Education reporting nationwide shortages in special education (affecting nearly all states), mathematics (44 states), and science (42 states). 

Addressing this shortage will require innovative approaches beyond traditional recruitment methods, especially with the conclusion of ESSER funding. Attracting and keeping staff will be dependent on institutions’ ability to create high-quality working environments that offer professional development opportunities, work/life balance, and adequate support systems. Some experts caution against simply lowering teacher qualification requirements to address shortages. Certain states, however, are turning to alternative pathways like apprenticeships that maintain high standards and hands-on experience opportunities while opening doors for candidates who may face barriers in traditional certification programs. 

While there aren’t easy or simple solutions to this challenge, there are ways to think outside the box. Read about our work with the Colorado Center for Rural Education, which offers a variety of pre-service and in-service stipends for rural educators. 

Education leaders should prepare for micro-learning to become increasingly central to educational delivery, driven by shifting attention spans and demands for flexible learning options. This approach, which breaks content into short, focused segments delivered through spaced repetition, offers significant advantages in both accessibility and effectiveness—micro-learning can boost knowledge retention by up to 80% versus traditional teaching, Whatfix data show.  

Academic institutions face a pivotal challenge: developing micro-learning elements that maintain rigorous standards while offering the flexibility modern students demand. To stay competitive, some education leaders are weaving these targeted, on-demand modules into their existing programs. A hybrid approach—blending traditional classroom teaching with convenient, focused learning segments—could help effectively bridge this gap. The key to success lies in creating engaging, interactive content that upholds high academic standards. 

Extended reality (XR), including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), is poised to modernize educational delivery. Over the past five years, search interest in XR has increased 250% according to Exploding Topics, suggesting growing awareness and expectations from students and educators alike. The impact of technology on student engagement is particularly noteworthy, with 92% of institutions reporting that students who use XR are more engaged, according to a 2023 EDUCAUSE survey.  

Prepare for XR to move beyond experimental projects and become a mainstream educational tool. The technology enables immersive experiences ranging from virtual field trips to complex surgical simulations. While initial adoption has focused more on specific departments or projects, consider developing comprehensive XR strategies that span multiple disciplines. For institutions looking to maintain a competitive edge, investing in XR infrastructure and training could be one answer, especially as the technology becomes more affordable and accessible across both K–12 and higher education settings. 

Read more about XR’s potential and how schools can use it. 

Gamification is moving beyond simple points and badges to become a sophisticated teaching strategy that can transform routine learning activities into engaging, interactive experiences. Its growth in popularity reflects the proven effectiveness of game-based learning in increasing student engagement and motivation, particularly in traditionally challenging subjects. According to a TalentLMS survey, gamification in training programs leads to significantly better engagement outcomes: while 83% of learners report feeling motivated when their training includes game elements, the opposite is true for traditional training methods, where 61% of participants experience boredom and a lack of productivity. 

Consider how to thoughtfully integrate gamification into their curriculum and assessment strategies and include deeper elements of game design that foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. For administrators, the value lies not only in increased student engagement but also in the ability to track progress through detailed metrics provided by gamified platforms. Institutions looking to gamify instruction should focus on implementing game-based learning solutions that balance attention-grabbing qualities with educational rigor, ensuring that the gaming elements enhance rather than distract from learning objectives. 

Social-emotional learning (SEL) and soft skills development are becoming central to educational strategy, driven by strong demand from employers. As a LinkedIn report revealed, 92% of HR professionals value soft skills equally or more than hard skills. In particular, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving are seen as the most vital, according to Monster’s Future of Work Global Survey. 

Education leaders planning ahead should look at integrating comprehensive SEL frameworks that address both academic and emotional development, starting from early childhood education through higher levels. This approach should encompass emotional awareness, conflict resolution, and interpersonal skills. Some institutions are already exploring innovative approaches, such as adapting traditional grading to account for soft skills like communication and determination as well as knowledge of material.  

Read about our work supporting a district’s soft skills framework. 

With a new presidential administration comes several potential changes to federal education policies, requirements, and funding. While the wheel of change generally moves slowly, and some of the boldest measures the administration has proposed are unlikely, here is some insight from Marzano Research experts into what we could see in the next four years. 

The U.S. Department of Education may undergo some modifications, though it’s improbable that Congress will completely dismantle it. We expect the administration to pursue staff attrition and operations restructuring, such as combining offices. Leadership may reduce federal DEI initiatives while maintaining a focus on student loan policies and forgiveness. Our experts say the department is expected to emphasize Career and Technical Education (CTE) and career readiness programs, along with potentially expanding parent choice in school options. The administration will also likely increase focus on accountability and transparency in education systems and gives more local flexibility in decision making. Additional priorities may include providing fiscal resources for local education agencies and enhancing school safety measures. 

Other Key Education Topics to Watch 

• Continued focus on closing pandemic learning gaps 
• More inclusive and accessible education 
• Declining enrollment 
• Chronic absenteeism 
• Collaborative learning 
• Neuroscience-backed teaching methods 

While these emerging trends create some complex challenges for education professionals, they also provide opportunities to improve how students learn and grow.  

Need support along the way? Marzano Research offers a suite of services in early care and education, school improvement, classroom practice, rural education, and professional learning. Whether you’re a state, district, or school, we can provide research, program evaluation, data collection and analysis, technical support, strategic planning, coaching, and more. We would love to discuss solutions to your challenge or project—just reach out or call 720.463.3600.