The 3 next big things in education tech for 2026

Much of the discussion around AI and young people has focused on what career opportunities may exist in the future. But the technology is already changing education. These honorees have leveraged it to personalize preparation for standardized tests as well as help teachers generate compliant curricula and supporting educational materials. AcelyFor personalizing college entrance exam preparationMany families pay about $1,000 for college entrance exam prep programs that offer one-size-fits-all instruction, with private tutoring stretching well beyond that. Acely seeks to flip that investment on its head with a personalized program starting at $49 per month that requires only about 20 minutes a day. While that still adds up, the service provides personalized, responsive instruction, not just a barrage of drills. In August, the company formed a partnership with the organization behind the ACT to co-market its prep platform nationwide. ChalkieFor making AI a helpful teacher’s petThe exceptional emotional intelligence needed to effectively connect with young minds likely leaves teaching relatively low on the list of jobs humans will soon cede to AI. Chalkie keeps the technology squarely…