Education
New York leaders agree to school cellphone ban as rest of budget remains in limbo
Legislative leaders and Gov. Kathy Hochul have settled on a bell-to-bell cellphone ban in schools, a top priority for the governor and the first budget item that appears settled
Lawmaker seeks to establish guardrails, ‘some accountability’ around artificial intelligence
The proposed bill would also prohibit law enforcement from using AI to generate police reports or teachers from using software to create lesson plans.
New research finds schools of education fail to prepare teachers to use AI
Not one superintendent we spoke with considered higher education a resource for artificial intelligence-related professional learning.
NC House panel advances bill restricting K-12 student cell phone use
A North Carolina House committee advanced a bill requiring school boards to adopt cell phone restriction policies during instructional time.
Illinois lawmakers weigh new proposal to set guardrails around AI
As artificial intelligence continues to expand and students use AI-powered tools like ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini, state lawmakers are looking into a proposal that would require the Illinois State Board of Education to create guidance for educators on how to use AI in classrooms.
82% of schools suffered recent cyber breaches, report says
The Center for Internet Security said it observed nearly 14,000 security events and confirmed 9,300 cyber incidents, which tend to surge during high-stakes periods like exams.
Bill to catalog Nebraska school ‘tools of mass surveillance’ hits roadblock
Sponsoring State Sen. Danielle Conrad vows to find another path forward, including outside the Legislature.
AI chatbots can cushion the high school counselor shortage — but are they bad for students?
The more students turn to chatbots, the fewer chances they have to develop real-life relationships that can lead to jobs and later success.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s cellphone ban in schools advances
The Legislature advanced LB140 to second reading Monday with bipartisan support, 44-0, with five lawmakers not voting or excused.
New bills would add computer science to Ohio high school graduation requirements
Slightly more than a third (38%) of Ohio’s high schools don’t offer any computer science classes.
Featured eBooks
Kept in the dark: Inside the St. Landry Parish Schools ransomware attack
A 74 investigative series: Meet the hired guns who make sure school cyberattacks stay hidden. Here’s what we uncovered about a massive attack on the school district in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
School cellphone bans spread across states, though enforcement could be tricky
The research on social media’s harmful effects has moved lawmakers to bipartisan action.
Kept in the dark: Inside a trio of Los Angeles school cyberattacks
A 74 investigative series: Meet the hired guns who make sure school cyberattacks stay hidden.
Youth-focused social media mandates need teeth, not just training
Recent legislation in Iowa would require sixth through eighth graders to study the “effects of social media.” But experts caution that minors can’t just be warned about the platforms’ dangers.
Kept in the dark
Meet the hired guns who make sure school cyberattacks stay hidden.
How better edtech management can help schools navigate new immigration rules
School officials can leverage data and technology to comply with new federal immigration rules while still protecting the civil liberties of immigrant students, according to a new policy brief.
For New York statewide school cellphone ban, Hochul proposes $13.5 million to cover costs
The proposal came Tuesday as Hochul presented her $252 billion 2026 state budget, which would send roughly $37.4 billion to schools across the state.
New research: Done right, virtual tutoring nearly rivals in-person version
Two new Johns Hopkins University studies explore how high-quality virtual tutoring can help struggling students.
Technology is supposed to decrease teacher burnout – but we found it can sometimes make it worse
COMMENTARY | Asking teachers to adopt new tools without removing old requirements is a recipe for burnout.
Parents think schools’ cybersecurity is stronger than reality, report says
Recent research from Keeper Security found a “widening gap” between the perception of districts’ cyber readiness. Better training and information sharing can help improve the outlook.
