The math skill schools should teach — gambling

[Lauren Coffey, EdSurge]

View in browser     |   No. 720  |   2/26/26   |   Subscribe to this newsletter This issue is sponsored by   After covering education for over a decade, I’ve found we often come back to the same problems, just repackaged as different concerns. As a child growing up in the ’90s, there was some hand-wringing over TV time, and later, “computer time” — a phrase that sounds oh so quaint now — back when a computer was limited to a device in a single room.    But I think the last few years have brought a level of stress about screen time that has not been felt before, where even members of Congress are now weighing in. The American Academy of Pediatrics tried to alleviate this worry by removing a set hourly limit recommendation for children’s screen time, but it still feels like there’s a bit of a panic out there. Many states are trying to not only ban phones in the classroom but also their use at lunch time and passing periods, with other leaders looking to ban AI chatbots in toys (which are becoming increasingly more popular).    I don’t know if there is a one-size-fits-all answer, but I do know the amount of guilt I’ve heard from parents is astronomical. Just know, if doctors and lawmakers are grappling with this, you’re not expected to have the answers either.    —- Lauren Coffey, EdSurge reporter 📣 TOP STORIES   ALL BETS ARE OFF: The number of students who gamble underage is swelling, with a recent report finding that one-third of boys gamble before they turn 18. Given this, some argue that schools should adopt a gambling literacy curriculum. But precisely how to prevent students from becoming suckers is tricky. Some suggest more math skills would help.   CROSSING THAT BRIDGE: What does a “good education” really cost? In this personal essay, an education researcher reflects on crossing into elite private schooling and the psychological toll that followed alongside the opportunities. Now as a parent, he revisits that experience to ask a harder question: When opportunity comes with harm, is it worth passing on to the next generation?   Sponsored by ViewSonic TECHNOLOGY ON THEIR TERMS: Classroom technology looks different in every room. Three educators describe how interactive displays with multiple entry points can support different teaching approaches, allowing teachers to begin with core features and build more interactive lessons over time, while increasing student participation and classroom discussion. The following is a message from our sponsor   Empower math teachers with Ed.ai, the world’s leading AI grader for handwritten work. Auto-grade, give rich feedback, and generate targeted practice in minutes. Try it for free!   🕵️MORE TO THE STORY   DIGITAL VICE: EdSurge editor Mary-Liz Shaw noted a Common Sense report claiming that a third of boys will gamble before they turn 18. Having conducted some research on gambling in other countries, I knew that the rise of cellphones had led to pervasive advertising and problems keeping youth from gambling. In the U.S., most states restrict gambling to 21, meaning many students are presumably gambling underage, from their phones. From EdSurge’s perspective, it connected to a “future literacy” that schools should focus on.    So I called Common Sense's head of research, who pointed me toward some of those who had advised on the report. I also called a researcher and clinician who'd done a report on the same topic a few years before, and read up on some of the studies they all referenced. I was also able to find a curriculum once put together blending math and gambling.    An unanswered question: How much of this gambling is occurring on school-issued devices?   Read the final story here.    — Daniel Mollenkamp, EdSurge reporter   🗞️ IN OTHER NEWS   GRAPH-IC CONTENT: What types of data are EdSurge readers most keen to explore? College grad starting salaries, reading scores and dramatic changes in enrollment headlined the most-read Data Bytes in 2025.   WIDESPREAD WOE: While affording child care has always been an issue for lower-income families, the problem of paying for — and even finding — child care is now equally affecting middle- and upper-class families, according to a new report. See how widespread it is here. 🔗WHAT WE'RE READING   Lessons from Kentucky’s public school cellphone ban. (NPR)   The Trump administration is forging ahead with its attempt to shutter the Department of Education. (The 74) Nevada doubled free pre-K seats, but it occurred too late for programs to use it. (The Nevada Independent) 📈 STORY IN A STAT 54 percent The share of teens who’ve used chatbots for homework, according to a new poll from Pew Research Center. Screen time, cheating and teens’ emotional connection with artificial intelligence have become major concerns for schools, where researchers point to a lack of guidance on the booming tech, as EdSurge has reported. Pew’s numbers show that more than half of teens use AI  to search for information and a little less than half use it to summarize an article, book or video. The report found that 12 percent of teens have used AI for emotional support.   Post a job | See all jobs   Account Manager | CodeHS | Chicago, IL CodeHS is looking for an Account Manager to help manage and renew customer accounts. You will get a chance to work closely with educators and schools to facilitate teaching coding to students all over the world.   Educational Sales Consultant, Kentucky | IXL Learning | Remote IXL Learning, developer of personalized learning products used by millions of people globally, is seeking an Educational Sales Consultant to join our field sales team.   Events See all events and meetups   Lexia Announces 2026 Science of Reading Week From Theory to Practice | March 2–4 | Online Lexia will host three one-hour webinars at part of its  “Science of Reading Week” event. Attendees will obtain practical guidance that empowers them to support teachers, strengthen fidelity, and drive measurable literacy gains.   SXSW EDU Conference & Festival 2026 | March 9–12 | Austin, TX The SXSW EDU Conference & Festival brings together the brightest minds in education. Celebrate what’s next in learning with a global community of practitioners, entrepreneurs, and visionaries shaping the classroom of tomorrow. Austin, TX, March 9–12.   THANKS FOR READING   ➔ Got any feedback? We love hearing from readers. Shoot us a note, critiques, a joke—whatever you’ve got! ➔ Interested in reaching our readers? Sponsor this newsletter. EdSurge is an editorially independent project of ISTE+ASCD reporting on the powerful forces, fascinating people and innovative practices shaping teaching and learning. International Society for Technology in Education 2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia, 22201, United States To update your email preferences or unsubscribe, click here.