The 2026-27 school year is taking shape across more places than the traditional classroom.
Roylco identified four trends influencing how schools and families approach learning, beginning with the continued expansion of inclusive education. More students with disabilities now spend most of their school day in general education settings, while recent research points to neutral or positive academic outcomes for their classmates.
Microschools represent a much different shift. These small learning communities typically enroll five to 15 students, but the sector now serves an estimated 1 million to 1.5 million children across approximately 95,000 U.S. sites. Education Savings Account programs have helped families explore those alternatives in a growing number of states.
STEAM instruction is also moving into museums, nature preserves, science centers, and other community spaces. More than 13,000 school districts now incorporate STEAM programs, creating additional demand for portable, hands-on materials that educators can use beyond a standard classroom.
Social-emotional learning (SEL) continues growing alongside documented student needs. More than 72% of U.S. schools incorporate SEL into daily instruction, according to data cited by Roylco. Schools must balance that expansion with staffing shortages and teacher burnout, which continue to affect more than half of K-12 educators.
For educational toy and product makers, the trends point toward flexible materials that support small groups, mixed-ability classrooms, outdoor exploration, and emotional development.
Additional details about Roylco’s approach are available at roylco.com.
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