Legislators push for screen-free schools

[Daniel Mollenkamp]

View in browser     |   No. 723 |   3/19/26   |   Subscribe to this newsletter This issue is sponsored by   The pandemic forced schools to adopt technology at a breakneck pace. Back then, districts were concerned about all students having access to technology, as they rushed to extend teaching beyond the physical boundaries of school.    But these days, many feel whiplash. As worries about screen time turn into restrictions, schools are also having to deal with the literal cost of technology.    Now, interestingly, some school districts have started to link edtech payments to student achievement. A recent report by Digital Promise tracked the first schools to turn to this form of “outcomes-based contracting.”     But the costs to schools may be coming from technology in less obvious ways as well.   Last week, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts sent a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy arguing that Amazon Business Platform is using “algorithm-driven dynamic pricing” to boost costs for school districts. Part of the research behind Warren’s letter stems from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, which alleged in a report late last year that Amazon has driven up costs substantially for communities, causing a fourfold increase overall in expenses since 2016. In one example — highlighted in the group’s report and Warren’s letter — the platform charged one school district $8.99 for a 12 pack of Sharpie markers, while charging a nearby district $28.63 for the same pack. The group alleges one school district lost $1 million in the price hikes.    — Daniel Mollenkamp, EdSurge reporter   📣 TOP STORIES   EDTECH IN FOCUS: Amid the rise — and rising concerns — of edtech, parents are looking more critically at their children’s use of screens and consumption of digital content. After a swell of phone bans at schools, some legislators are looking to take it one step further.   REAL-WORLD LEARNING: Reporter Ellen Ullman highlights career training in districts that suggests a next step in workforce pathways. Some schools incorporate work certifications into the curriculum. Others have developed intensive after-school programs, in which students do actual work-for-hire projects — not simulations — for local businesses and community groups.   Sponsored by Digital Promise INDUSTRY IN THE CLASSROOM: In eastern Alabama, educators and employers are working together to shape cybersecurity pathways that connect classroom learning with real workforce needs. Internships, industry-aligned credentials and employer input are helping students gain hands-on experience while giving regions new tools to build local talent pipelines. The following is a message from our sponsor Find. Compare. Decide.   Since 2012, educators have trusted the EdTech Index to find the most complete, reliable, and up-to-date information available for learning technology products, including quality indicators from trusted sources. Explore the EdTech Index today. LEARN MORE!   edtechindex.org   🗞️ IN OTHER NEWS   RECAPTURING WONDER: In a world dominated by screens that provide every kind of amusement, children need guidance to fire up their imaginations, writes early childhood educator Hema Khatri in this thoughtful essay for EdSurge on the power of non-digital prompts. She draws on her experience with 4-year-olds to suggest ways to get kids’ creative juices flowing. 🔗 WHAT WE'RE READING   Why are so many special education teachers leaving the classroom? (The Boston Globe)   Without safeguards, AI can harm child development, a new study shows. (WHYY) The case against screens in schools has gone viral, but is it built on more than anxiety? (Chalkbeat) 📈 STORY IN A STAT 62 percent The share of students using artificial intelligence for homework as of December 2025, according to a recent Rand survey. That figure shot up from 48 percent last May, according to the research institute’s nationally representative survey of more than 1,200 youth. Students were also more likely to agree that turning to AI for homework hurts critical thinking skills than in previous years. Older students were more likely than younger ones to report that the specific rules for AI vary depending on the teacher, according to the findings.   Post a job | See all jobs   Sales Manager - New Sales | CodeMonkey | Remote CodeMonkey is looking for a Sales Manager to join our amazing team and to lead an educational revolution that will affect children all over the world.   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.   Associate Educational Sales Consultant, Inside Sales | IXL Learning | San Mateo, CA IXL Learning, developer of personalized learning products used by millions of people globally, is seeking an upbeat, focused, high-energy individual to join our Inside Sales team.   Events See all events and meetups   Equitable AI For Outcomes Virtual Convening | March 25 | Online  The free virtual event will explore how organizations can adopt AI responsibly while centering equity and measurable outcomes. Participants will hear from experts, nonprofit leaders, and innovators working at the intersection of AI and social impact.   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. 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