The Illusion of Readiness: What School Leaders Get Right (and Wrong) About EdTech Adoption

Across schools and districts today, leaders are asking increasingly thoughtful questions about educational technology. They are reflecting on alignment with learning goals, assessing costs, and striving to address equity concerns. These are important and commendable steps—and many leaders deserve credit for moving beyond simplistic “buy and deploy” models of edtech adoption.

Yet even with these efforts, many technology initiatives stall or fall short. Why? Because while schools often assess readiness in terms of infrastructure or training, true readiness is deeper and more nuanced. It is cultural, relational, and contextual—and these dimensions are too often overlooked.

At Lift.ED Consulting we encourage leaders to reflect on what we call the illusion of readiness: the belief that simply having devices, connectivity, and basic training equals readiness for meaningful, equitable technology integration.

In reality, readiness also depends on the stories and histories communities bring to technology, on how power and voice are distributed in decision-making, and on whether tools are chosen and implemented in ways that affirm student identities.

Many leaders are already taking steps in this direction, sometimes without naming it explicitly.

• When a principal invites student and family input before selecting a new learning platform, they are going beyond surface readiness.

• When district leaders review their digital tools for cultural relevance and accessibility before adoption, they are practicing a deeper form of readiness.

• When instructional coaches help teachers not just learn how to use technology but reflect on its cultural impact, they are expanding what readiness means.

This work is encouraging, and it points to a simple but powerful truth: meaningful edtech adoption is as much about leadership mindset and community engagement as it is about devices and apps.

The challenge, and the opportunity, is to deepen this emerging practice.

To move from checklists to conversations, from infrastructure to inclusion, from implementation to belonging.

• How might your next edtech decision reflect not just a readiness to deploy but a readiness to serve your whole community—with dignity, care, and cultural awareness?

That is what true readiness requires.