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| August 25, 2026 |
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| Edtech news for those building the future of edtech
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| (Kevin Carter/Getty Images) |
The department's new edtech guidance in 2026 places strong emphasis on instructional value over mere screen time. States and districts are encouraged to evaluate technology based on its impact on student learning rather than the number of logins or hours spent online. The guidance urges decision-makers to prioritize tools that support meaningful student engagement, high-quality instruction, and integration into classroom practice.
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SmartTake: As we head into the 2026-27 school year, all eyes are on edtech. What are my school's AI policies? How much time will my kindergartner spend on an iPad daily? How is my school protecting my child's personal data? Who's vetting the apps teachers are using in their classrooms? How do we know what's working? Educators, parents, community members and other stakeholders are paying closer attention to the impact of edtech on the classroom, instruction and students' learning. They want results, but they also want accountability. They want to know that the folks in charge of purchasing and implementing edtech programs are looking out for schools' and students' interests. That's fair, folks. Technology can't just be present -- it must prove it fulfills its instructional purpose. Make sure school decision-makers know you stand behind this ambition. Sit down with the educators -- yes, even teachers -- and engage. Listen more than you talk. Ask questions and steel yourself for the hard answers. Resist the impulse to rattle off a list of features and benefits. There will be time for that, but for now, build relationships. Win trust. Your time will come and when it does, they will listen.
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Dive into the latest issue of Disruption: Learning, exploring shifts and opportunities in education. Find innovative ideas for teacher development, literacy instruction, career education, and more. Get your copy! |
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| (Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images) |
Procurement specifications for K-12 AI tutoring are changing to reflect new priorities in learning and integrity. Districts now require products that support guided discovery, process-based feedback, and rapid response times—benchmarked at under three seconds by vendors like Evelyn Learning. Specifications are also demanding visibility into student workflows, including logs of prompts, steps taken, and hints used, to support process-based grading. These changes mean procurement is becoming more focused on evidence of student engagement and alignment between technology, assessment design, and integrity policies.
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| (SOPA Images/Getty Images) |
Interactive learning tools are now a core part of Google's back-to-school offerings, with Gemini and Google Search enabling features like AI-generated tables, 3D simulations and grids. Students can visually explore complex topics, such as DNA structure or the pH scale, through custom prompts that generate dynamic models and interactive overviews. These tools aim to make abstract or challenging subjects more accessible and engaging, giving students hands-on experiences that go beyond traditional study methods.
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Top stories from last week's newsletter
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Two guests look past the classroom to find where artificial intelligence quietly adds up. One traces the cost of AI to the assignment page, the other to the electricity bill. Together they raise a question few schools have fully worked through, what an AI-first future actually costs, and who ends up paying for it.
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Congratulations to the newest ISTE Seal holder, ANTON! The ISTE Seal provides third-party validation of an edtech product's alignment with digital pedagogy, technological usability, and the ISTE Standards. To learn more about the Seal and how these tools support student learning and educator development, visit https://iste.org/seal. |
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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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