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| June 2, 2026 |
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| Edtech news for those building the future of edtech
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Teachers in Bibb County, Ga., are using AI-based simulations to practice difficult parent meetings before facing them in real life, as research shows most teachers receive no training family engagement. Using simulations created by the Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity, participants engage in virtual sessions and face-to-face mentorship, receiving structured practice and feedback from AI avatars with distinct personalities that offer a variety of challenging parent scenarios.
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SmartTake: This more edtech developers know about what goes on within school walls, the more likely a product is to meet deep, important needs -- the kind that will withstand budget cuts. The goal is not taking tasks off teachers' desks -- it's taking the right tasks off teachers' desks and providing tools they need that aren't as obvious.
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Teachers and students have told us exactly what they need. The first step does not require a perfect plan, but rather a decision to start. -- Eva Harvell, Ed.D., technology director, Pascagoula-Gautier School District, MississippiMore than half of core subject teachers and 54% of students are using AI for schoolwork, up significantly in the last two years, according to a Rand report, and 54% of teachers say professional development is crucial for using AI. But only 45% of principals have policies on AI use; 34% of teachers say their school addresses AI and academic integrity; and 35% of district leaders say students receive AI training. To close this gap between actual AI use and responsible implementation, Eva Harvell, Ed.D., the technology director for the Pascagoula-Gautier School District in Mississippi, recommends districts step up by establish governance, investing in deep professional development and making student AI literacy a curricular responsibility.
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AI use in schools can erode critical thinking if not properly managed, and students need cognitive friction to learn effectively, Rob Wessman, Ed.L.D., the vice president of Ethics, Safety, and Learning Innovation at SchoolAI, argues. Wessman says educators should implement guardrails such as requiring cognitive ownership, designing AI interactions for dialogue rather than output, making thinking visible and teaching AI literacy explicitly.
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The Peninsula School District near Seattle has developed LessonLens, an AI tool that provides personalized instructional coaching for teachers, especially those in smaller schools, by critiquing lessons based on uploaded videos. Created using Claude Code, LessonLens allows teachers to measure their performance against guidelines such as the Framework for Teaching and Teach Like a Champion, while maintaining user privacy.
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The American Federation of Teachers, led by President Randi Weingarten, on Wednesday unveiled a comprehensive AI plan, seeking bans on all screen use for students below third grade and on student-facing AI tools in elementary education. The AFT is also calling for extensive teacher training on AI, independent government research on AI safety and stronger privacy protections as well as proposing a federal "tech tax" on major technology companies to address AI-driven job disruptions.
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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act faces significant challenges as it operates under outdated provisions from its last reauthorization in 2004. The federal government has never met its promise to cover 40% of the costs for students with disabilities, with contributions stagnating at about 18%. This shortfall, combined with staffing shortages and more complex student needs, strains state and local resources. The expansion of school choice further complicates the issue, as IDEA protections do not always extend to private schools, leaving many students without the support they need.
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EDUwidget, a new, free Chrome extension, can float as an overlay on any website to provide teachers with easy access -- without changing tabs -- to classroom management tools such as timers, traffic lights and name pickers. The extension, designed by The EdTech Way's Kim van Veenendaal, operates locally in the browser, ensuring no data is collected, and is available in 12 languages.
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Top stories from last week's newsletter
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| About ISTE Solutions Network |
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| The Solutions Network a member-based community that aims to 1) connect innovative solution providers to one another to learn, explore, and share best practices, 2) engage with the ISTE/ASCD member community to gather feedback and increase the impact of high-quality learning solutions, 3) engage in thought leadership conversations and 4) provide benefits for the annual ASCD + ISTE conference, where approximately 16,000 educators, decision-makers, and vendors convene. This community is made up of edtech companies of various sizes that are interested in engaging with each other and with ISTE to discuss Edtech’s role in teaching and learning, industry trends, and solve common challenges. Members of this network can benefit from connecting with industry experts and thought leaders, as well as from gaining key buyer information and insights.
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| Product announcements appearing in SmartBrief are paid advertisements and do not reflect actual ASCD + ISTE endorsements. The news reported in SmartBrief does not necessarily reflect the official position of ASCD + ISTE.
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