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| August 11, 2026 |
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| Edtech news for those building the future of edtech
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The Consortium for School Networking has published a new, free guide to help school districts manage the growing complexities of screen time and technology use policies. The guide offers actionable advice on how schools can develop learning-centered, student-protective and locally relevant technology policies, and it includes practical resources like sample policy language and communication templates to support district leaders as they address both state and local requirements.
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SmartTake: Local, state and parental interest in limiting tech can make this area a minefield for administrators. How are edtech vendors addressing this? Share your feedback.
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Join us on Sept 3 for an interactive live webinar exploring AI integration in education with a focus on vital governance. The conversation will be kicked off by Kanoe Namahoe, SmartBrief's Editorial Director, and moderated by Jess Steinbach, Head of Custom Solutions at FutureB2B. Gain insights and strategies to effectively integrate. Register today! |
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Outcomes-based contracting -- aligning vendor payments with student achievement -- is gaining traction in K-12 education. Proponents believe the contracts not only motivate vendors to focus on results but also foster more active partnerships with districts, increasing the likelihood of effective implementation and responsiveness to student needs. However, the approach requires districts to commit to proper execution, including staff training and adherence to program guidelines, to ensure success for both students and vendors.
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Some educators are combining natural language and multiple AI tools -- without learning coding -- to create interactive learning experiences for students, such as side-by-side translation readers and searchable databases of human-authored books, without relying on vendors. Many of the educators are aiming for tools that require deeper thinking, creativity and student agency rather than shortcuts, but Marc Watkins, the University of Mississippi's assistant director of Academic Innovation and co-author of "The Norton Guide to AI-Aware Teaching," offers some cautions.
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At least two Pennsylvania school districts are struggling to maintain one-to-one laptop programs amid rising costs, as Chromebooks now cost more than $600 each, up from $400, driven by increased demand for computer components. The William Penn School District, for example, serves a high percentage of low-income students and faces tough choices in allocating limited resources.
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| (Nataliia Samoilova/Getty Images) |
Aaisha Asif, a student at Pine View Middle School in Sarasota, Fla., is a top 10 finalist in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge for developing an eco-friendly adhesive inspired by mussels. Asif's project aims to reduce volatile organic compound emissions by using natural proteins and iron-based cross-linkers. The finalists will compete at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn., in October, with the winner receiving $25,000.
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The annual STEAM Festival, hosted by the Oak Cliff nonprofit 2 Inspire Peace, brought families together for a unique back-to-school celebration. Technology took center stage with children exploring drone-flying simulations and virtual reality. The event also featured the Frisco robotics team, Technobotz. In addition, the KiTNETIC nonprofit distributed kinetic maker kits, helping students learn engineering concepts through fun, hands-on projects like building paper helicopters and catapults.
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Twenty-one candidates for the Chicago Board of Education have signed the Illinois Families for Public Schools' Pledge to Protect Human-Centered Education, which calls for significant restrictions on the use of AI in Chicago Public Schools. The pledge includes a three-year moratorium on generative AI, the creation of a chief privacy officer, screen time limits for all grades and a ban on collecting biometric information. Illinois Families for Public Schools highlights concerns about student data privacy, the need for genuine human interaction in education and the lag in district policies protecting students' personal information.
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School psychologists are just one intended audience of a collaboration between OpenAI and the American Psychological Association to integrate clinical expertise and behavioral science into AI guidance for well-being-focused youth mental health. Their partnership aims to create evidence-based resources and deepen understanding of how children interact with AI in school, family and therapy environments. The guidance will help school psychologists and clinicians recognize youths' overreliance on AI, respond to unhealthy usage patterns and promote balanced use of technology.
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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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