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| March 24, 2026 |
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| Edtech news for those building the future of Edtech
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| (Daniil Dubov/Getty Images) |
A new Stanford University report finds that despite schools' rapid adoption of AI, there is limited rigorous evidence demonstrating its efficacy in transforming education. The report, which analyzed more than 800 studies, ultimately focused on only 20 high-quality causal studies, as most others have not isolated the impact of AI. “I think any product that is making strong outcome claims should be heard cautiously, because, as we know, the research is very early,” says Chris Agnew of the AI Hub for Education, the report's co-author. |
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SmartTake: "Early" is the key word to remember here. AI is fairly new; thus, the data and research are too.
This report found that AI tools often improve student performance on tasks, but students aren't able to maintain the same achievement level without AI -- suggesting kids are only using AI for answers, not lasting skill development or learning. Does your product promise lasting results without the tool? The report says AI is saving as much as 30% of teacher's time by handling burdensome tasks, but instead of letting them work less, it just gives them more time for different work. But that's one of teachers' issues: spending too much time doing administrative work to handle the real, child-facing work of teaching.
There's no doubt some edtech developers make unproven claims -- such as lasting benefits without the tool in one semester, or letting teachers go home early. While educators and developers have found strong benefits, it's crucial to remember the difference between causal and connected. Note caveats, such as products that must be used exactly as directed to yield the potential gains. Be sure your claims are 100% accurate and clear; remove or avoid any hyperbole. Make sure your product isn't one that researchers would say has inaccurate or inconclusive claims.
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Employers are turning to K-12 CTE programs to find talent with swift learning curves.
Join the webinar on March 25th to learn how to build a program that meets these needs and positions students for success.
Register now!
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Navigate360 is investigating a potential cyberattack connected to the P3 Global Intel tip-reporting platform that may have compromised highly personal student information -- such as reports of self-harm, abuse, substance use and threats of violence -- at 30,000-plus schools. The P3 Global Intel platform is also used by law enforcement and federal agencies. While the company has not confirmed any data was accessed, experts recommend that schools take precautionary measures, as the data collected through the platform is highly sensitive.
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Correlation rather than causation seems to be behind many arguments against using screens in schools, asserts Chalkbeat editor Matt Barnum, especially those of Jared Cooney Horvath, a neuroscientist/education consultant who has spoken before Congress on the topic. "There’s no smoking-gun data showing that ed-tech is at the root of, or even contributing to, recent learning declines," writes Barnum, who disputes Horvath's conclusions in three ways. But Barnum admits the question does remain: Even if the edtech tools aren't the root cause of key problems, "could [they] be doing more harm than good?"
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How can schools tackle challenging history instruction while centering student inquiry, feel equipped to promote dialogue, and navigate uncomfortable conversations in classrooms and beyond? With rigorous, student-centered instruction, complex pedagogy, and supportive professional development. See what that looks like. |
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Schools and districts are adopting simulation-based training tools to better prepare teachers for classroom responsibilities. These tools, such as BranchED's AuthenTECH Practice, use large language models to create realistic student interactions, allowing teachers to practice skills like lesson delivery and behavior management in a low-stakes environment. Holly Huynh of Bibb County School District notes that simulations provide immediate feedback and help teachers avoid developing bad habits.
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| (Milan_Jovic/Getty Images) |
Middle-school students from Richmond, Columbia and Aiken counties attended the third annual Cyber STEMFest at the Georgia Cyber Center, where they participated in activities related to cyber and technology careers, including games that teach coding and online security. The event aims to inspire students to pursue technology careers, with a particular focus on AI.
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School districts in Bucks County, Pa., are adopting different approaches to integrating AI in the classroom, according to a survey by Technical.ly and the Bucks County Beacon. Some districts are creating think tanks to develop guidance, some are launching pilot programs to build AI literacy and some have established formal policies and regulations.
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| Secure your K-12 Renewals |
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The White House has unveiled a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence that urges Congress to enact child-protection measures related to AI, including extending existing federal protections on child privacy, such as limits on data collection for AI model training as well as targeted advertising. The framework also recommends parental controls on privacy, screen time and content exposure, plus privacy-protective age assurance. It advises against federal preemption of state laws protecting children online.
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Chalkie has secured $4 million from TriplePoint Ventures to enhance its AI-driven lesson planning platform, which is used by 500,000-plus teachers globally. The generative AI platform lets educators enter a topic and select a framework to produce curriculum-aligned lesson plans along with tailored, structured teaching materials, saving them a reported average of five hours every week.
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Top stories from last week's newsletter
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| (ISTE) |
Every edtech product claims to be "research-backed," but what evidence actually matters? New research from LXD Research reveals educators trust studies from contexts similar to their own classrooms--not generic research claims. Learn how to decode certification badges, validation labels, and research evidence to quickly identify tools with genuine impact in settings like yours, saving time and improving student outcomes.
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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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| If you place your head in a lion's mouth, then you cannot complain one day if he happens to bite it off. |
Agatha Christie,
writer
March is Women's History Month |
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