News exclusive: the civics lessons of Charlie Kirk's shooting

[EdSurge PreK-12]

View in browser     |   No. 718  |   2/12/26   |   Subscribe to this newsletter This issue is sponsored by   When I heard about the shooting of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University last fall, I felt miserable — for his family and friends, of course, and for the campus that hosted him.    The event had a further resonance for EdSurge. Just three weeks earlier, we’d published a story by contributing reporter Jennifer Howard about the Constitutional Literacy Institute, a workshop for K-12 educators on teaching civics in a polarized age, devised by the university’s Center for Constitutional Studies. I worked with Jen on this story, assigning it and then shaping it before publication, and was pleased EdSurge had identified a topic that could serve our substantial readership of teachers, who yearn for professional development opportunities like this. That an act of political terror should occur at the very campus we’d just featured, with a center devoted to American civics and promoting healthy, informed debate in schools, was tragic irony indeed.     The weeks after the shooting saw a swell of commentary and analyses about it across the media. But I most wanted to hear from the educators at the Center for Constitutional Studies, the unwilling firsthand witnesses of polarized politics twisted to violence, and now with a too-real understanding of the need for measured civil discourse. I reached out to UVU, and Matthew Brogdon, the center’s director, agreed to write a reflection for us.    In his essay, which we published this week in advance of Presidents Day, Brogdon encourages educators to find healing and a way forward in the wisdom and courage of George Washington, who knew better than anyone the value of restraint and reason in chaotic times.    — Mary-Liz Shaw, EdSurge Contributing Editor 📣 TOP STORIES   GRADING PHONE LAWS: A new report card from advocacy groups gave only two states in the nation an “A” for device-banning laws, as more experts push for schools to have entirely phone-free days and devices placed in unreachable areas. Which states meet these standards?   GIRLS ONLINE: As educators grapple with how to pull their students’ attention away from devices, the Girl Scouts set out to explore what drives girls to spend time online. Then the girls turned the tables in a surprising way.   Sponsored by Lincoln Learning Solutions RETHINKING THINKING: As AI reshapes how learning happens, educators face a new challenge — defining what meaningful thinking looks like when machines can summarize, draft and analyze. Automation can deepen literacy, amplify reflection and expand teachers’ capacity to design learning that builds judgment, reasoning and higher-order thinking. The following is a message from our sponsor   Empower math teachers with Ed.ai, the world’s leading AI grader for handwritten work. Auto-grade, give rich feedback, and generate targeted practice in minutes. Try it for free!   📺 EYES AND EARS WATCHFUL EYE? “Learning coaches,” contracts and monitoring attendance online — while virtual schools may tout themselves as more flexible for students, parents are involved as ever. Learn more in this EdSurge video short.   🗞️ IN OTHER NEWS   SECRETS AND LIES: In this Q&A, the authors of “Miracle Children” discuss how a private ACT prep school in Louisiana exploited racial stereotypes to sell false promises of academic achievement to dozens of families.   COMPUTATIONAL THINKING: To teach students to critically investigate how chatbots work, a teacher prompted them to engage in what learning scientists call productive struggle. The lesson in computational thinking reveals a path forward for how educators can help students understand the powers and limits of AI. Read the latest from EdSurge Research here. 🔗WHAT WE'RE READING   When it comes to children under age 2 using screens, expert recommendations and family realities clash. (The 74)   Popular social media platform Discord now requires age verification. The Internet has been becoming gated for a while now. (The Verge)   Utah lawmakers weigh a bill that would require instructional software be “proven safe, legal and effective” before it’s used in schools. (ABC 4 Utah) Federal child care cuts have sent rural students to “limbo.” (The Daily Yonder) 📈 STORY IN A STAT 86 percent The share of adults concerned that data about children’s ages — collected as part of new digital age-verification attempts — will be shared or sold without parental consent, according to a recent report by the nonprofit Common Sense Media. There’s an increasing focus on age-gating the internet to protect children, which is part of a larger pushback against the prevalence of tech in children’s lives that has included legislation banning cellphones in schools. Those surveyed want protections — including age verification on edtech products — but don't trust companies with the data and don't trust that protections will be effective, the report shows.   Post a job | See all jobs   Director of Research and Insights | The Center for Effective Philanthropy/YouthTruth | San Francisco, CA YouthTruth is seeking a Director of Research and Insights to lead the development and execution of our research and publications agenda and manage the continued evolution of our core school culture and climate survey instruments.   Account Specialist | CodeHS | Chicago, IL CodeHS is seeking an Account Specialist to manage a portfolio of several hundred small accounts. You would be responsible for ensuring customer engagement, renewing existing contracts, and identifying opportunities for account expansion.   Events See all events and meetups   SXSW EDU Conference & Festival 2026 | March 9-12 |  Austin, TX The SXSW EDU Conference & Festival brings together the brightest minds in education. Celebrate what’s next in learning with a global community of practitioners, entrepreneurs, and visionaries shaping the classroom of tomorrow. Austin, TX, March 9–12.   CEC 2026 Special Education Convention and Expo | March 11-14 |  Salt Lake City, UT Attending the CEC 2026 Convention & Expo in Salt Lake City is a can't-miss opportunity for educators dedicated to supporting students with exceptionalities. No matter your role, you can drive educator and student success by attending CEC 2026.   THANKS FOR READING   ➔ Got any feedback? We love hearing from readers. Shoot us a note, critiques, a joke—whatever you’ve got! ➔ Interested in reaching our readers? Sponsor this newsletter. EdSurge is an editorially independent project of ISTE+ASCD reporting on the powerful forces, fascinating people and innovative practices shaping teaching and learning. International Society for Technology in Education 2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia, 22201, United States To update your email preferences or unsubscribe, click here.