Certified Contractors was a proud sponsor of the annual AASA National Conference on Education this year, designed to provide educators with the right tools and education to lead schools to greater success. We connected with educators and school administrators across different K-12 schools nationwide. During our time at AASA NEC 2025, we had the unique opportunity to learn about the industry's latest trends and see how they fit into our mission, helping schools identify risks before allowing access and finding on-site vendors screened to their standards—for free.
This year's event shed light on some of the pressing challenges and innovative solutions leading the way in school administration and safety for 2025. We would like to save you the trouble of scrolling through industry trends and share our takeaways on the top three trends shaping the future of K-12 education this year.
It may sound like old news, but according to Schools That Lead, only 42%~ of K-12 schools offer comprehensive mental health counseling and support. Addressing mental health for educators and students alike was a common topic that bolstered this year’s conference. From discussions about keeping mental health in check to more literal measures like screening and safety to give students and staff peace of mind, the topic was so prevalent that the event even had a dedicated health and wellness center.
Understanding that mental wellness is just as critical as academic achievement, districts are implementing a range of resources in 2025, from dedicated full-time mental health professionals who offer more comprehensive counseling and support to innovative intervention programs. As partners in this mission, we understand the importance of ensuring that every individual on campus—including contractors—aligns with a school’s commitment to fostering a safe and supportive environment.
Love it or hate it, AI has found its place in K-12 education, and it's time to adapt. A quick stroll through the exhibit hall revealed a clear pattern, indicating that we can finally dismiss AI as a “trend” in K-12 education for good. With vendors showcasing AI-driven solutions designed to enhance everything from security to lesson planning and automating administrative tasks, artificial intelligence showed what it was really capable of and is earning its stay.
At AASA NCE, conversations centered on AI's potential were hard to miss, with school leaders exploring how to leverage technology to help them manage resources more effectively. Emerging technology to recommend lessons and activities tailored to students' needs was front and center, with companies showcasing innovative tools to assist educators with various tasks, from scheduling to lesson planning. AI is doing more than planning and assisting, though. Technologies to keep schools safe demonstrated AI's ability to integrate with existing school security cameras to detect weapons.
The topic of school safety is nothing new, but from AI to more mindful background screening, the way that school administrators are approaching safety is changing in 2025. As security challenges evolve, schools are ramping up measures to protect students, staff, and visitors. Screening for vendors and contractors has always been a topic of debate in an industry where time is not ample, and help is frequently needed. Conversations about school safety buzzed throughout the event, focusing on practical solutions to close loopholes and prevent harm from coming through the door from the start.
Our internal data finds that nearly 1 in 10 (7%) of contracted workers screened do not meet the requirements to access secure facilities. This suggests that up to 7 out of 100 individuals permitted on school grounds, such as contractors and volunteers, could pose a risk if left unscreened, creating potential safety issues and liability. Whether contractors and volunteers come from a vendor you work with once, or the relationship is frequent and lasting, one thing echoed: whether a full-time employee or a subcontractor—anyone who walks on campus grounds should not only be screened but meet the same stringent safety standards.
Screening contractors and vendors has always been a time-consuming task that requires great attention to detail, but as workloads pile up while safety takes a seat in the front row, it may be time for a new approach. That’s where we come in. Certified Contractors empowers school administrators by helping them find reputable vendors screened to their standards. Our goal is to help you keep schools safe so you can focus on creating an environment where learning thrives. Learn more about how Certified Contractors can help you optimize your vendor management—for free.