This is the first in a series of communications about the Echo → Bright Thinker transition. It covers the questions administrators are most likely to have right now, at the first release of the Echo Sunset announcement. A preview of what's coming in future updates is included at the end, where we'll share more detail on technical setup, training, and a few NTN-owned tools as those pieces are finalized over the coming months.

Part 1 — What to Know Now

Q: When does this happen, and what's actually happening to our Echo domain?

All Echo domains shut down after June 30, 2027. Schools and districts that sign a Bright Thinker renewal agreement have their domain ported directly into Bright Thinker's platform, preserving everything as it exists at cutover.

You'll access your domain from a new URL starting July 2027 — plan to update bookmarks, shared links, and SSO settings once that link is issued.

Q: Will everything already in our Echo domain (courses, users, grades, gradebook setup, branding, and permissions) carry over?

Yes. Because this is a domain port rather than a data migration, everything in your domain at cutover carries over and works the same: course structures, templates, and NTN Project Templates already in use; Terms/Grading Periods; domain branding and feature controls; custom roles and permission sets; and both Multi-Outcome Scoring (MOS) and Standards-Based Grading (SBG) configurations. Historical grade data is preserved for anyone still in the domain as of 6/30/27.

Q: Will our SSO and SIS/rostering setup (including OneRoster) continue to work?

Yes — functionality carries over. Expect some reconfiguration (certificates, permissions, and SFTP connections will need to point to the new Bright Thinker domain), but SSO and SIS Sync will work the same way they do today in Echo. Step-by-step technical guidance will follow in a future update.

Q: What will this cost us, and do our license counts carry over?

Bright Thinker has committed to holding per-user pricing flat for the 2027–2028 renewal, matching what schools already paid NTN for 2026–2027. License counts will be finalized directly as part of each school's contracting process with Bright Thinker.

Q: Who do we contact with questions, and is support continuing after go-live?

Please continue to reach out to our Echo Help Desk at help@echo-ntn.org or by emailing Mark Stolan, Senior Manager of Digital Platforms at mstolan@newtechnetwork.org. After the transition, Bright Thinker will operate its own help desk support line, continuing the role NTN/Echo Help Desk has played for years.

Q: What should we do to prepare right now?

No immediate action needed

There's nothing urgent to do right now. Echo will run normally through the 2026–27 school year. Over the coming months, we'll share more information to introduce you to Bright Thinker and to help your school prepare for the transition, whether you continue with Bright Thinker or choose a different direction.

If you'd like to get a head start, a few optional steps may help:

• As a good practice, export a backup copy of your grade and user data using Echo's existing export tools.
• If you plan to continue with Bright Thinker, let your team know that your login URL will change, so you're ready to share it with staff and families once the new link is issued.
• Watch for upcoming communications on Bright Thinker introductions, technical setup guidance, training dates, and sandbox access. See the preview below.

Part 2 — Coming in Future Updates

These topics will be addressed in upcoming rounds of communication as more details are finalized with Bright Thinker and Agilix. We're previewing them now so you know what's still ahead as you plan for next year.

Technical Setup & Cutover Logistics

•  Exact mechanics and timing of the domain port (for schools that choose to do so), including whether there's a maintenance window.

•  Step-by-step guidance for IT staff on reconfiguring SSO certificates and SIS/SFTP connections for the new domain, if needed

•  Availability and scheduling of a sandbox/test domain to work through SSO and OneRoster setup ahead of go-live.

Training & Support Rollout

•  Full administrator training curriculum, onboarding sessions, and a firm schedule.

BusyBee Intelligent Companion (optional AI tool)

•  Data governance details — what student/staff data BusyBee would access if a school opts in.

•  More information about access and what it can do for your schools

NTN Community, School Browser & Content Library

•  NTN and Bright Thinker are committed to keeping the functionality of these tools available; more detail is expected in the spring.