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| December 23, 2025 |
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Only 29% of pre-kindergarten teachers are using generative AI compared with 53% of K-12 teachers, according to a Rand survey. Pre-K teachers already use whiteboards and other digital tools; their main concerns with AI are developmental appropriateness and the idea that excessive screen time might limit social and communication skills at a pivotal age. Teachers say a lack of generative AI training for pre-K educators also is a problem.
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SmartTake: Rand economists Jordy Berne and Christopher Doss, as well as Rand researcher and former elementary school teacher Ashley Woo, note that this is a "pivotal moment." Educators and policymakers may start extending their AI interest to pre-K, and they will want to "ensure that technology supports both the professional needs of pre-K teachers and the developmental needs of students," the trio writes.
Berne, Doss and Woo suggest that education technology companies help "by working with independent researchers to examine how AI interactions affect child development and by integrating the research findings into product design."
As noted in past issues of the ISTE Solutions Network SmartBrief, we strongly recommend that edtech developers involve the end users -- in this case, active pre-K teachers and students -- in the creation and testing phases.
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Schools need leaders prepared to support student mental health, belonging, and positive culture. Brick by Brick equips educators with the SEL and character development skills most programs overlook. This self-paced online course from Rutgers provides actionable frameworks leaders can apply immediately. Download Now |
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Many teachers are eager to develop AI literacy, support their colleagues and ensure they do not fall behind as technology evolves, so The National Academy for AI Instruction collaborated with a teachers' union and some AI companies, like Anthropic and OpenAI, to provide in-person workshops and online resources. Several New York City teachers recently gathered to experiment with chatbots and other generative AI tools, learning to streamline lesson planning, create presentations and tailor activities to diverse student needs, as well as talk about best practices and ethical considerations.
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When teachers encounter digital friction -- such as confusing interfaces, password management challenges or delayed student access -- it often leads to lost instructional time, reduces time to create lesson plans and adds stress for teachers. Schools that adopt better system integration and timely support let educators focus more on instruction and less on troubleshooting technology.
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SmartTake: Does your edtech company take the time to create and provide guidance to schools on avoiding digital friction?
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The Ignite Tutoring Program, launched by Teach for America, provides daily 30-minute online tutoring sessions to students at selected Nevada schools. College student fellows work virtually with small groups of children, focusing on literacy at the elementary level. The program is integrated into the school day, offering a consistent and structured approach to academic intervention and allowing students to build relationships with live tutors rather than relying on automated systems.
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| (Pixabay) |
Schools are increasingly dealing with students using AI to create sexually explicit deepfakes of classmates, and at least 25 states have enacted legislation this year to address deepfakes. Laura Tierney, who has helped schools develop social media policies, uses a six-step response that includes alerting platforms where deepfakes are posted, collecting evidence and directing victims to helpful resources.
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An AI weapons-detection system at a Florida middle school mistakenly flagged a student's clarinet as a rifle, prompting a lockdown and police response before officials confirmed there was no threat. While safety and privacy experts warn that false alerts can create stress, alarm fatigue and unnecessary police responses, the firm, ZeroEyes, said dispatching officers "was better" than missing a potential danger.
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Newark Public Schools will receive $176,625 from New Jersey's Phone-Free Schools Grant Program to enforce a phone-free policy from "bell-to-bell." The initiative, part of a statewide push to limit the use of cellphones during the school day, aims to minimize distractions and improve student engagement, and the funding will be used to purchase phone storage systems.
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The Raspberry Pi Foundation is integrating AI concepts into existing math curricula to boost AI literacy in schools. Through real-world examples -- like traffic light classification and weather prediction -- students apply mathematical concepts to demystify AI algorithms and avoid viewing AI as anthropomorphic. Raspberry Pi's free teaching materials and initiatives like Experience AI, empower teachers to make abstract math engaging and relevant, while also sparking critical thinking about technology's limitations and ethical implications.
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Text-to-speech technology, commonly used as a digital accessibility tool in secondary education, can benefit all students, not just those with disabilities. Tools such as Apple's Speak Screen, Google's ChromeVox, Texthelp's Read&Write and Microsoft's Immersive Reader help students overcome text barriers, enhance focus and comprehension, and support higher-level literacy skills.
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Top stories from last week's newsletter
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| SmartBrief will not publish Dec. 25 through Jan. 1 |
SmartBrief will not be publishing Dec. 25 through Jan. 1 in observance of the holidays. We will resume publishing Jan. 2.
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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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