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| January 27, 2026 |
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| Edtech news for those building the future of Edtech
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K-12 school leaders say 2026 marks a shift to evaluating each edtech program's teaching and learning efficacy and its balance with foundational teaching, plus increased attention on data governance, cybersecurity and stakeholder communication. "The era of technology for technology's sake is over," Kris Hagel, chief information officer of Washington state's Peninsula School District, says. "The pandemic forced rapid adoption without reflection. Now comes the reckoning."
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SmartTake: Last week we offered a more bird's-eye view of potential 2026 edtech trends. This week, we hear from leaders in schools right now. For them, budget constraints and edtech overload are driving a need for intentional integrations or consolidating platforms. "It's not just about funding. It's about human capacity. Parents, teachers and leaders can't juggle endless platforms," Chantell Manahan, director of technology at Metropolitan School District of Steuben County in Indiana, says. School technology leaders also want to ensure students are ready for an AI-embedded future, which requires product training and support for teachers.
What leaders are saying:
"We need to get back to innovation and creativity among teachers. We need partners who will push back sometimes and take the journey with us. Technology cannot be the whole curriculum anymore."
-- Evan Abramson, director of innovation and technology, Morris-Union Jointure Commission, New Jersey
"Data governance conversations are leaving the tech department, and AI is exposing issues we've ignored."
-- Chantell Manahan, director of technology, Metropolitan School District of Steuben County, Indiana
"What metrics show us whose products are effective? I've seen crazy metrics, like number of clicks."
-- Susan Moore, director of instructional technology, Meriden Public Schools, Connecticut
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There's a time-tested, empirically validated teaching framework that is proven to increase student achievement when implemented with fidelity: the SIOP ® Model. Learn more at an in-person workshop, virtual event, online course, or other professional learning session. Discover SIOP®. |
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Most large school districts are unprepared to meet the April deadline for updated federal digital accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to a report by the National School Public Relations Association and Sogolytics. Only 14% of districts have nearly completed the necessary updates, and 46% prioritize digital accessibility, and major barriers include lack of staff awareness and training.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new guidance advocating for wide-ranging, systemic changes to support and promote healthy development amid growing digital exposure. This includes advocating for regulations on harmful content and algorithms that could negatively impact youth. The guidance moves beyond traditional advice of screen time limits, focusing instead on structural responsibilities.
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AI is becoming a permanent fixture in education, presenting both opportunities and challenges, writes Matt Renwick, a long-time educator and a systems coach for a state-supported education service agency in Southwestern Wisconsin. While AI can enhance learning, Renwick suggests it also raises ethical concerns, such as energy consumption, and encourages educators to use AI intentionally, involve students in discussions about its ethical implications and prioritize human interaction to balance its benefits and drawbacks.
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The ENCORE program dismantles barriers between edtech R&D and classrooms, fostering synergy to explore edtech's transformative effect on education. See the change in SmartBrief's Q&A with Digital Promise's Shayla Cornick. Download now! |
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Social-emotional learning can be particularly beneficial for students with disabilities, but SEL curricula often fail to consider their needs, says Nicole Fuller of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. This oversight is a missed opportunity, given that students with disabilities spend most of their time in general education classrooms, and also stems from a lack of research on the impact of SEL on students with disabilities, according to a meta-analysis by the Yale Child Study Center.
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A growing number of states are pairing cellphone bans in schools with media literacy education to help students navigate digital media, according to a report from Media Literacy Now. States such as Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee have implemented laws to restrict cellphone use, requiring schools to teach students about the potential downsides of social media and how to evaluate digital content.
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Lawmakers in 21 states have proposed more than 50 bills addressing the use of AI in education, focusing on areas such as AI literacy, responsible use and creating task forces, according to the Center for Democracy and Technology. States are moving forward with their own approaches, despite recent federal efforts to limit state authority in this area.
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A trial has started in Los Angeles to determine whether Meta, TikTok and YouTube intentionally made their platforms addictive to children, potentially causing mental health issues. The case, part of a broader wave of lawsuits, could have significant implications for the tech industry. Meta and YouTube maintain that their platforms are safe for young users while highlighting their safety features.
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Peoria Public Schools District 150 in Illinois has transitioned from balanced literacy to structured literacy to address learning gaps exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Curriculum Coordinator Lindsay Bohm describes the shift, which includes explicit instruction in handwriting, phonics and phonemic awareness, as well as guided small-group instruction. Professional development through the Lexia LETRS course has been crucial, Bohm says, as has been integrating technology to support, not replace, instruction.
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OpenAI has begun rolling out age prediction for ChatGPT as a safety measure for teenagers following lawsuits alleging the platform contributed to teen suicides. The feature estimates users' ages based on behavior and account signals, restricting under-18 users from harmful content.
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Anthropic has launched a partnership with Teach For All, a global network of education nonprofits, to involve over 100,000 educators in shaping AI tools for classrooms. The initiative distinguishes itself by positioning teachers as co-creators, not just users, providing them with direct input into the development of the Claude chatbot and related AI systems.
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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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| Annoying as they may be, it is rarely worth the effort to plug the leaks. |
Stephen Hess,
political scientist, adviser, speechwriter, writer
1933-2026 |
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