Welcome to the Spring 2026 edition of Khan Academy’s Quarterly Newsletter for District Leaders.
A Message from Sal Khan
Everyone is (rightfully) concerned about screen time.
It’s easy to frame this as a debate about screens, but I think that misses the point. The real question is how we use technology to support learning.
When used thoughtfully, digital tools can help students engage more deeply, give teachers clearer insight into progress, and make learning more visible. When used poorly, they can become a distraction. The difference comes down to intentionality.
As I shared in a recent conversation, the goal isn’t more or less screen time. It’s better learning time.
Throughout this edition, you’ll see examples of how districts are approaching this balance, using technology to support meaningful practice and real learning.
– Sal Khan
Upcoming webinars: See what’s possible at scale
We’re hosting two webinars focused on how districts are using the reimagined Khan Academy experience to drive impact.
Reimagining Khan Academy: See the new experience for districts
On April 22nd at 2 p.m PT/5 p.m. ET, join us for a live walk-through of the reimagined Khan Academy experience and see how the platform has evolved into a district-ready solution with stronger instructional alignment, a more intuitive experience, and tools built for real classroom use. 👉 Register for the webinar
How Rhode Island’s governor and education commissioner are scaling SAT readiness statewide
On May 5th at 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET, hear from Sal Khan and Rhode Island Department of Education leaders, including Governor Dan McKee and Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, when they will share how they implemented an SAT-readiness strategy at the state level and what other systems can learn from their approach. 👉 Register for the webinar
Case studies: District voices on what works
What does successful implementation actually look like in real districts? We’ve partnered with systems across the country to turn grade-level and graduation-success strategies into measurable impact, and the throughline is clear: when implementation is intentional, results follow. We’re excited to share three new case studies below.
- Denver Public Schools, CO: driving SAT readiness across every high school through a unified, district-wide approach
👉 Read the case study. - Hanover Community Schools, IN: closing persistent learning gaps with AI-powered, data-driven instruction
👉 Read the case study. - Glendale Independent High School District, AZ: changing how daily classroom practice works by embedding tools into core instruction 👉 Read the case study.
Kristen’s corner: Motivation, competition, and what drives learning
by Dr. Kristen DiCerbo, Chief Learning Officer, Khan Academy
As part of the reimagined Khan Academy experience, new motivational features like team-based games and classroom leaderboards are designed to support engagement and learning.
In this quarter’s reflection, Kristen explores:
- What research says about competition and student outcomes
- Why team-based competition can be effective
- How motivation can support meaningful learning
- What new tools reveal about student thinking
We hope to see you at one of our upcoming webinars, and if you haven’t already, sign up for this newsletter so you don’t miss future updates.
Warmly,
The Khan Academy Districts Team
