From computers to AI: How CN and UEN have tracked a decade of technology in Utah schools
Salt Lake City, Utah (June 2, 2026) — For a decade, Connected Nation (CN) has partnered with the Utah Education Network (UEN) to help track how technology is accessed and used across the state of Utah. Over its 25-year history, CN has led initiatives spanning local and regional broadband planning and mapping, research and data analysis, compliance and monitoring, and digital empowerment. Its work with UEN on the Utah School Technology Inventory is one of the national nonprofit’s longest-running and highest-impact collaborative efforts.
How legislation sparked a statewide inventory
The Utah School Technology Inventory began in 2015, when the Utah Legislature passed Senate Bill 222 to create a program for tracking classroom technology and related resources in public and charter schools across the state.
Then in 2017, the Legislature passed House Bill 277, launching the Digital Teaching and Learning Grant Program to support schools and districts with funding aimed at improving student outcomes and building educators’ digital teaching skills. To track the results of these investments, UEN committed to conducting the inventory every other year. That’s where CN stepped in.
CN joined UEN in 2015 after being selected through a competitive RFP process to lead the survey and compile the inventory report. The two organizations have remained partners for six iterations of the inventory, from 2015 to 2026.
Tracking tech across every Utah school
The inventory tracks how technology is accessed and used in Utah schools. This includes devices, connectivity, instructional platforms, and digital learning environments, with the goal of understanding how these resources support teaching and learning across the state. But as technology advanced, the inventory evolved to keep pace.
"There have obviously been changes in the way that schools use technology, including their software, hardware, and applications,” said Chris McGovern, Director of Research Development, CN. “As for the inventory itself, it has used multiple different platforms to collect its data, and each inventory has adapted to address the most pressing questions that school systems have at the time. When we first started, the biggest question was whether schools had at least one computer per student. Now, schools are working on formulating their AI strategies.”
While technology has evolved over time, one constant has remained: a 100% participation rate each year. This consistency is critical, as the effort is designed to capture a picture of what schools across the state are doing. The inventory reflects all public districts and charter schools, made possible by the work of CN and UEN to achieve full participation. The strength of that commitment is apparent in the quality of the final reports.
AI enters the inventory
Over the years, the inventory and its questions have stayed largely unchanged. This year, however, the inventory expanded to address one pressing topic: artificial intelligence (AI). Understanding how to incorporate AI into their classrooms has been challenging for some teachers because the technology is so new.
“Some schools choose not to allow AI at all, and that decision affects how they plan their classes and allow their students to use technology,” said McGovern. “Even for those schools who opt out of AI usage, its presence is being felt by teachers and administrators.”
The AI-focused questions yielded some of the report's most compelling findings.
“Information about AI policies and priorities will be the most useful as local educational agencies chart their course for how they plan to use these technologies,” said McGovern. “The ability to see how their peers are using different applications has been a great tool for developing best practices for Utah schools.”
Why this work matters for Utah educators
This effort involves ongoing conversations with school leaders across Utah, gathering information about their technology needs, device availability, and software use. What makes this project unique is the partnership between CN and UEN. Together, the organizations regularly update the inventory to ensure it addresses the current issues affecting Utah schools, including AI, and provides actionable information for educators across the state.
As part of the ed-tech initiatives at CN, this inventory reflects CN's ongoing commitment to ensuring that educators have the data they need to make informed decisions about technology. Thanks to this partnership, CN and UEN have built a resource in the Utah School Technology Report that gives schools a clear picture of where they stand and a roadmap for where they need to go.
More articles from the UEN partnership:
- 2026 Utah School Technology Report reveals statewide insights on school technology
- Utah completes the 2025 UEN School Technology Inventory with 100% participation, adds AI focus
- From inventory to innovation: How Iron County School District powers student success through technology and eSports
- Keeping tech in check: How North Star Academy uses the UEN tech inventory to stay up to date
