Across the country, education systems are being pushed to do more—and to do it better. Families expect faster, easier ways to apply for programs. Teachers want tools that help them, not slow them down. And state and district leaders need reliable data to make fair, informed decisions.
But many of the systems in place today just aren’t built for that. They’re often outdated, hard to update, and can’t keep up with the pace of policy changes or public needs. Trying to run a modern education system on old technology is like trying to stream HD video over dial-up—it just doesn’t work anymore.
Today’s platforms need to do a lot behind the scenes. A single rule change—like adjusting income limits for free lunch programs—can ripple through dozens of forms, approval steps, and reports. Systems need to handle those changes without falling apart.
They also have to work for a wide range of users. A parent applying to a school program might be using a smartphone with spotty internet. A teacher might be logging in quickly between classes to mark attendance. An administrator might need to pull up real-time data to prepare for a funding audit or a legislative meeting.
And unlike systems used in businesses, education platforms get hit with huge spikes in activity—like the morning enrollment opens or the week test scores are released. That traffic can overwhelm a system if it’s not designed to scale quickly.
These tools also have to be easy to use, even for people who aren’t comfortable with technology. They need to follow accessibility rules so people with disabilities can use them, and they have to protect student data according to strict privacy laws like FERPA and COPPA.
These challenges aren’t “nice to solve someday.” They’re happening right now—and if the technology can’t keep up, the whole system struggles.
Over the past two decades, I’ve worked on large-scale systems across education, finance, and public sectors.
At the Arkansas Department of Education, I led the development of platforms using .NET Core, designed to scale with evolving policy and programmatic needs. In this article, I’ll share the architecture strategies that support those goals.
Advantages of ASP.NET Core Razor for education applications
Razor Pages in .NET Core allowed us to build fast, stable web applications that worked well even on older devices or slower networks. Unlike applications that rely heavily on JavaScript in the browser, Razor renders content on the server and delivers fully-formed pages to users.
This made the user experience smoother, especially in areas with limited connectivity. Each page’s code was kept separate, making it easier for teams to develop and maintain features without interference.
Another key advantage was localization support. We could easily adapt the interface to different languages—such as Spanish or Vietnamese—helping schools serve multilingual communities effectively.
Implementing effective content management systems for educational platforms
Education agencies manage more than basic news updates. They publish policy documents, announcements, program guides, and more—often requiring review before publication.
Off-the-shelf content tools didn’t meet those requirements. We built a custom content management system (CMS) using Razor Pages, tailored to the structure of public institutions.
A prime example was the LEARNS platform developed for the Arkansas Department of Education. It included a comprehensive CMS that supported multi-level approval workflows between ADE staff, the Governor’s office, and external reviewers.
Image source: adedata.arkansas.gov
Content modules like executive orders, action reports, and event updates were designed with granular access controls and publishing logic specific to public-sector workflows.
The CMS supported approvals, scheduling, version history, and permissions. Templates ensured consistency across pages. Even staff with limited technical experience could create and update content confidently, knowing that review and publishing steps were clearly defined and traceable.
Technical deep-dive: Workflow engines for multi-stakeholder approval systems
Many education processes involve multiple reviewers—such as school officials, department heads, and state staff. These multi-step approvals must be reliable and easy to track.
We created a custom workflow engine to manage this. Each workflow step was stored in a database, and users saw only the tasks relevant to their role. Notifications were sent automatically, and every action was recorded.
By building the engine ourselves in .NET Core, we were able to match the exact logic of our processes—without the overhead or constraints of external tools. The result was less confusion and greater accountability across teams.
Access control patterns for educational content management
Controlling who can access what is critical. A parent should only view their own child’s records. A teacher may only need access to their assigned classes. Auditors may need limited, read-only views.
Source: stytch.com
We combined Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) with Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC). RBAC managed general roles, while ABAC refined access based on conditions—such as school district, grade level, or data type.
This made the system flexible. We could adapt permissions when policies changed or grant temporary access to external reviewers without compromising security or rewriting code.
Database design considerations for educational data
Educational records change often. Students transfer. Grades get updated. Attendance corrections are made. It’s not enough to store the current state—we must also retain history.
We used a well-organized, normalized database structure and added tracking for edits and versions. In SQL Server, we maintained audit trails, enabling us to answer questions like: “What did this record look like last month?”
Performance was optimized through indexing and query tuning. We focused on real usage—like retrieving reports by school or showing recent submissions—rather than theoretical models.
Integration approaches with state-level reporting systems
Education systems must share data with other government platforms. This includes compliance reports, funding records, and audit exports.
We developed background services in .NET Core to automate these reports. These services generated data in standard formats like XML or JSON, validated it, and transmitted it securely. Logs captured every step in case something went wrong.
For real-time updates—such as notifying another system of an approval—we used messaging tools that let systems communicate immediately without needing to be tightly connected. This kept the platform responsive and reliable.
Performance optimization for high-traffic application periods
Traffic in education systems fluctuates. A typical day may be quiet, but key events—like report card releases or application deadlines—cause usage spikes.
To prepare for that, we used caching, auto-scaling, and monitoring tools. Frequently requested content was stored temporarily in memory. Static files were delivered through a content delivery network (CDN), reducing pressure on core systems.
Cloud services scaled automatically when demand increased. Logs and performance data helped us detect issues early, allowing fixes before users were affected.
Testing strategies for education applications
Testing in education is more than functionality. It must cover accessibility, user experience, and compatibility with various devices and browsers.
We used automated unit and integration tests to catch technical issues early. Tools like Playwright simulated how real users interacted with the system. Accessibility checks ensured screen readers and keyboard navigation worked properly.
Source: playwright.dev
We also ran user acceptance testing with actual teachers, parents, and administrators. Their feedback helped us refine confusing screens and improve navigation—something automated testing alone can’t catch.
Code examples and architecture patterns
We followed Clean Architecture principles, which separate logic into layers: rules and decisions in one part, data access in another, and user interface in its own section. This keeps the system organized, easier to maintain, and more resilient to change over time.
We reused patterns across features to ensure consistency and reduce development effort. Here are a few practical examples:
| Feature | How We Built It | What It Helped Us Do |
| Multi-step applications | Forms that saved progress between steps | Let users finish tasks over time without losing work |
| Background processing | Services that ran behind the scenes | Sent reports or alerts without slowing down the site |
| Reporting engine | Templates with filters and schedules | Delivered timely reports to schools and agencies |
| Workflow engine | Role-based task routing with history | Ensured accurate, trackable approvals |
| Accessibility & validation | Built-in checks and screen reader support | Made the platform easier to use for all users |
| Modular features | Plug-and-play design | Added new tools without rewriting the whole system |
Conclusion with best practices
Education platforms must support a wide range of users, policies, and services. They must be reliable during busy periods, accessible to all, and adaptable to change.
.NET Core and Razor Pages gave us the foundation to build fast, stable platforms. But architecture choices—like using custom workflows, layered access control, and background processing—were what made those platforms effective in practice.
When done right, architecture supports more than performance. It helps people do their jobs, serve families, and trust the system they rely on every day. It reduces friction in how data moves, clarifies responsibilities across teams, and ensures decisions are made with accurate, timely information.
The result isn’t just better software—it’s a system that reflects the values and needs of the public institutions it serves, empowering them to adapt, grow, and deliver with confidence.
***
About the Author
With 20+ years in software engineering, George Peter is known for delivering impactful, large-scale solutions. His notable work includes leading the development of the EFAS–LEARNS portal—Arkansas’s statewide education platform. George’s expertise spans .NET frameworks, WCF, SQL Server, and agile team leadership.
***
References:
Arkansas Catholic. (2024). One year later: Pros and cons of LEARNS. https://arkansas-catholic.org/2024/08/16/one-year-later-pros-and-cons-of-learns/
Arkansas Department of Education. (2023). Digital locker image. https://adedata.arkansas.gov/Content/img/carousel-digital-locker.png
IBM. (2024). What is role-based access control (RBAC)? https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/rbac
Stytch. (2024). What is role-based access control (RBAC)? https://stytch.com/blog/what-is-rbac/
Playright. (2021). Class Test. https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-test
