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| February 17, 2026 |
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| Edtech news for those building the future of Edtech
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| (Rainer Puster/Getty Images) |
States like Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Utah, as well as many local policymakers, teachers and families, are looking to reduce children's screen time through outright bans, daily time caps and grade-differentiated limits, but they're often grouping edtech with social media and other consumer apps that are designed for entertainment and lack similar safeguards. A new Software & Information Industry Association guide outlines differences between educational and consumer tech. And Erin Mote, CEO of InnovateEDU and head of the EDSAFE AI Alliance, suggests that the edtech sector work with policymakers, schools and parents to clarify that edtech tools enhance learning and comply with strict privacy, efficacy and regulatory frameworks. |
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SmartTake: At FETC, Chair Jennifer Womble spoke of reclaiming the narrative while teaching students digital literacy and "healthy skepticism." An Education Week article focuses on purported time-wasting edtech, quoting ISTE+ASCD CEO Richard Culatta on the importance of edtech with a clear, high-quality learning advantage; privacy policies; robust teacher training; and managing the risks of networked devices. Other views on the good and bad of edtech, AI and devices in schools include:
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Use your math and reading expertise to make a real difference. Support students, build confidence, and extend learning beyond the school day by opening a local Kumon learning center in your community. |
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Traditional technology perimeter defenses are no longer sufficient for schools due to the widespread use of cloud platforms instruction, operations and communications, Charlie Sander, CEO of ManagedMethods, encourages districts to focus their limited resources on security for cloud environments -- where most sensitive data resides and which are most vulnerable to evolving cyberthreats -- ensuring good visibility into cloud data usage, monitoring for abnormal behavior, conducting regular audits to uncover risks and training teachers and students about different phishing methods.
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A survey by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Counseling Association reveals mental health professionals are concerned about the increasing use of AI chatbots, with 71% of counselors and 50% of psychiatrists predicting a decline in collective mental health. "We need to be developing tools and technologies where there is always an element of human oversight," says Marketa Wills, CEO of the APA.
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What makes a K-8 science curriculum most effective? Access a free resource bundle to help you understand and evaluate high-quality instructional materials (HQIM), including student experience, standards alignment, curriculum look-fors, and more! Download bundle |
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To realize the real value of each edtech tools, schools and districts need to unify their disconnected data to improve decision-making and outcomes, Abre CEO James Stoffer says. In this interview, Stoffer highlights the challenges districts face with fragmented data and emphasizes the importance of converting this data into a complete picture with actionable insights that will allow meaningful change.
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AI is increasingly being integrated into high-school career counseling, with tools like EduPolaris' Eddie offering 24/7 support and data-driven insights for counselors and students. Some schools, such as Tapestry Public Charter School, have found value in using AI to streamline administrative tasks and provide resources for students and families, especially those on nontraditional paths or with limited access to human counselors.
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The Great Learners Trust group of schools in the UK has introduced a digital bank to help teach financial literacy to primary students. The initiative uses a fictional currency, allowing students to manage accounts, make purchases and experience financial consequences in a controlled environment.
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| (Francesco Carta Fotografo/Getty Images) |
School districts across the US have installed Flock Safety's AI-powered license plate reader cameras to enhance campus security, but these cameras are now part of a national database accessed by agencies for a variety of investigations -- including those unrelated to campus safety. Audit logs reveal that school cameras are routinely tapped for immigration-related searches by out-of-state law enforcement, raising questions about the repurposing of student safety technology for broader policing and federal enforcement.
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Top stories from last week's newsletter
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When you're browsing the EdTech Index and see a product with multiple validation badges, you might wonder: What's the difference between all these certifications? Dive deeper into one specific type of validation that often gets overlooked but provides crucial information: design badges. |
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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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| The hero's journey is never a straight line toward ascendance. |
James Van Der Beek,
actor
1977-2026 |
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