Anthropic Agrees to Protections for Teachers Who Use Claude
AI giant will allow districts more contract protections for privacy and safety.
Also reported byK-12 Dive (Technology)
Beat
Policy
Legislation, regulation, courts and district rules.
Hackers Posted Data Stolen From Richmond Schools to Dark Web
Weeks after a cyber attack forced Richmond Public Schools offline, district officials are investigating whether hackers posted Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and other information to the dark web.
Conn. Lawmakers to Address Cellphones, Tech in Classrooms
With the recent election of nine educators to state office, some Connecticut teachers and officials are hopeful the next legislative session will reexamine the role of AI, cellphones and other personal devices in school.
AIOpinion
Opinion: Free AI for Teachers Sets a Dangerous Precedent
As artificial intelligence advances faster than many district policies and professional development can keep pace, ensuring its responsible use must fall not only to teachers but administrators, IT leaders and vendors.
Georgia College Students Use AI to Solve Problems for Burgeoning Town
As part of the Georgia 311 Challenge 2026 Demo Day, teams from four institutions created production-ready prototypes to help the fast-growing Mableton, Ga., with issues like transparency and digital services.
Digital Hall Passes Get Mixed Reactions at Pittsburgh-Area Schools
As Pittsburgh-area school districts turn to digital hall passes, some officials say they reduce the amount of time kids are out of class, while some students say they feel like they're being spied on.
PolicyAnalysis
After a Cyber Incident, IREs Get K–12 Schools Back on Track
K–12 districts have become an enticing target for cybercriminals. After all, school systems carry a lot of sensitive data, and many are working with limited cybersecurity budgets. Last year, half of K–12 schools experienced a cyber…
New AI ‘Ultimatum’ Sparks Concern Over Google’s Power in California Schools
Google has long been woven into California students’ education, with Google search, Chromebooks and Gmail quietly in the background in students’ daily lives. But that decadeslong relationship between the search giant and education…
Teaching & learningOpinion
Opinion: Ditch School-Issued Laptops and Bring Back Computer Labs
Students in U.S. high schools spend too much time in class distracted. They scroll social media, play video games, chat with friends and AI, and watch YouTube videos far beyond what their teachers assign. In a new report, I show that…
Senator Tells Google to Let Schools Disable A.I. Features in Search
The request came from Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, after Google said it would not turn off artificial intelligence tools for students using its search engine.
North Carolina Schools Seek Clarification on Google's AI Policy
Schools in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill are hoping for more details after Google said earlier this week that customers would only be allowed to use search if they subscribed to AI, then reversed that decision.
Also reported byEducation Week
Lawsuit Blames a School-Issued Chromebook for Student’s Mental Health Crisis
The Chromebook was used to get feedback from an AI chatbot about mental health concerns.
Also reported byThe New York Times (Education)
PolicyRoundup
Midterm muddle, the Google search fiasco, & your AI teacher is glitching: 🏆 Best Education Journalism of the Week 🏆 (11/6/2026)
All the best education journalism, media commentary, & newsroom changes.
Former Indiana Virtual School director found guilty of fraud in enrollment inflation scheme
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. The former director of the Indiana…
Teaching & learningAnalysis
Big Districts Require Big Decisions: Using Tech to Improve Learning Outcomes
Innovative Leader Award - CTO Adam Galvan of Aldine ISD shares his experiences tackling big challenges in a big district, as well as tips on how to use tech to improve performance.
Derrick Anderson succeeds Phil Regier at ASU EdPlus following growth to 119,000 online students
The new University Dean of Educational Initiatives succeeds Phil Regier, who moves into an advisory role after overseeing the growth of ASU Online from six programs to more than 400 Derrick Anderson has been appointed University Dean of…
University of Illinois Chicago requires faculty to disclose their own AI use to students
The university’s syllabus requirements cover staff use of AI in teaching and assessment, alongside clear rules for students and protections for approved accommodations University of Illinois Chicago faculty must disclose planned AI use…
Cyber Criminals Steal Financial Aid From Calif. College Students
A vulnerability in a vendor used across the California Community Colleges system to send students their financial aid refunds was exploited by bad actors who pocketed checks intended for students.
Google will turn off its search engine for schools by default. Is it an AI ‘ultimatum’?
The tech giant’s recent announcement comes as schools are pushing for more autonomy over what artificial intelligence tools students can use.
Also reported byThe New York Times (Education)Government Technology (Education)
Deepfake Cyber Bullying Outpaces Teacher Training, Policies
(TNS) — One in three educators don't know if their school or district has a policy to address the potential threat to student safety from AI-generated fake images and videos.
AIAnalysis
What Is the Purpose of College in the Age of AI?
What Is the Purpose of College in the Age of AI? Joshua.Bay Thu, 11/05/2026 - 03:00 AM The University of Virginia’s Christa Acampora discusses how colleges can navigate AI while supporting students’ intellectual, personal and…
PolicyAnalysis
What's Next for E-Rate? AASA Weighs in on FCC Review
With the FCC still taking public comments on the E-rate program, a leader from The School Superintendents Association explains which districts are most at risk and why a final decision could be months or years away.
PolicyAnalysis
What Will the 2026 Election Results Mean for Schools?
With new Democratic majorities in Congress, education technology represents one potential area of bipartisan cooperation, with some officials backing an AI bill to stop companies from using student data to train AI models.
AIAnalysis
Writing and Updating K–12 AI Use Policies That Meet the Moment
As many K–12 schools shift their artificial intelligence use from simple chatbots to more sophisticated agentic tools, AI policy for schools is not keeping pace. While 8 in 10 K–12 districts have adopted an AI policy, it remains…
AIAnalysis
AI Task Forces Drive Policy, Adoption and Innovation in Higher Ed
Artificial intelligence is arriving on campuses faster than governance can keep up. Individual departments and staff members are trying out new tools without the input of IT, leading to creeping shadow AI. Students with the means to…
Also reported byHigher Ed Dive (Online Learning)
AIAnalysis
Balancing Precision and Agency with AI in Schooling
Caitrin Wright, CEO of Silicon Schools Fund, and Aylon Samouha, CEO of Transcend Education, joined me and Diane to explore their evolving vision for high schools in the age of AI.
Edtech stakeholders urge support for E-Rate
The Consortium for School Networking on October 21 sent a petition to Congress signed by 464 education and community leaders from across the country, urging policymakers to protect and strengthen the E-Rate program and emphasizing the…
U of Kentucky grants employee religious exemption from AI use
A spokesperson said the university found the humanist administrator could still perform the essential functions of his job with the requested accommodation.
AIOpinion
Ed-Tech is Management
On the whole, technical people come to share the perspective of those who wield power rather than those over whom the power is wielded, with managers rather than labor, with officers rather than soldiers." – David Noble, Forces of…
Ohio Sets Aside $9M for Security Technology, Training
Ohio lawmakers approved grant funding to help K-12 districts purchase silent panic alarms, gunshot-detection systems and technology that allows law enforcement to access school security cameras during emergencies.
Mass. Colleges See Mixed Reactions to Adopting Flock and AI Cameras
Colleges and universities across Massachusetts have or are currently using Flock cameras or other license plate readers, and some students and staff are responding by decorating the cameras to draw attention to them.
AIOpinion
The Blackboard Way of Knowledge
This talk was given this afternoon at the launch of Princeton University's Societal AI . Thank you so much for inviting me here today to speak at the launch of Princeton’s Societal AI project. I recognize that – the topic is in the…
Survey: Most Parents Want Students to Use AI in School — With Strong Safeguards
Parents want schools to teach AI — but 4 in 10 teachers say they’ve had no training at all.
Columbia University Opens Claims for 3.1M Affected by Data Breach
A cyber attack on Columbia University, discovered in June 2025, compromised Social Security numbers, addresses, demographic details, financial-account information, academic histories and medical information.
PolicyOpinion
The Unexplored Depths of Natasha Singer’s Coding Kids
The latest in a string of books examining technology, kids, and schools hits on far more than it recognizes — including where EdTech may be headed. GUEST COLUMN | by Ian McCullough At EDTECH WEEK 2026, I had one must-attend session:…
Jerome, Idaho, Schools Disclose Ransomware Attack
Jerome School District was closed for two days last month and had a third party inspect its devices after a ransomware attack. The district did not pay the ransom and anticipates data being leaked to the dark web.
Milford, Conn., Public Schools Measure Chromebook Use
Milford Public Schools has been surveying teachers and collecting data on the classroom management platform Securly to assess their use of certain tools, finding that screen time increases as students get older.
AIAnalysis
4 Critical Security Considerations for AI in K–12 Schools
In K–12 districts, generative artificial intelligence is changing the way everyone works. Administrators use the tools to streamline workflows, teachers customize lessons for individual students’ needs, and students brainstorm ways to…
PolicyAnalysis
With Little Federal Guidance, States Take on Screen Time Themselves
As an umbrella term, education technology encompasses everything from learning management systems and student information systems to productivity tools and AI platforms. More specific language clarifying the difference between ed tech…
AIAnalysis
3 Ways To Shift AI Mindset From Suspicion to Productivity
A new report from the Center for Digital Thriving at Harvard University found AI suspicion is fueling a lack of trust between teachers and educators
New Jersey launches $125 million-plus supercomputer initiative with eight universities
The public-private investment will expand access to advanced AI computing for research and education, with SHI International responsible for building and operating the infrastructure New Jersey has launched a supercomputer initiative…
After ETS Breach, Experts Urge Stronger K-12 Cybersecurity
Following a data breach affecting millions of California students, cybersecurity experts say that stronger vendor oversight, better data management and dedicated funding could reduce the risk of future incidents.
Howard County, Md., Students Need Teacher Permission to Use AI
In Howard County schools, all assignments are considered AI-free unless a teacher allows its use. When AI is permitted, students must follow set boundaries and disclose or cite their use of the technology.
PolicyAnalysis
What Do Cyber Insurance Carriers Require of K–12 Districts?
For many K–12 schools and districts, cybersecurity insurance has become a common safeguard. The Center for Internet Security reports that 74% of K–12 organizations have purchased a cyber insurance policy. These policies protect…
UMass Lowell Unveils New Cyber SOC to Support Local Partners
A new Cyber Security Operations Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the fifth of its kind in the state, opens after data breaches hit nearly 4.5 million Massachusetts residents in 2024.
AIAnnouncement
EEF opens £15,000–£25,000 tender to develop guidance for testing AI and edtech in schools
UK researchers have until 13 November to bid for work supporting a government-backed program that will evaluate education technology, teacher workload and pupil outcomes The Education Endowment Foundation is commissioning new guidance…
464 Education Leaders Press Congress to Save E-Rate
A CoSN-led coalition is calling on lawmakers to preserve federal broadband subsidies for schools and libraries as the Federal Communications Commission weighs potential changes to the nearly 30-year-old program.
SETDA: States Shift From Ed-Tech Adoption to Accountability
The latest annual report from the State Educational Technology Directors Association says AI, growing scrutiny, limited resources and gaps in educator training are challenging states to demonstrate technology’s value.
Conn. Leaders Partner With Higher Ed for Workforce Development
In Connecticut, state officials and business leaders are forging relationships with universities to give students more inroads to growing, tech-focused fields and early opportunities with employers.
FCC Public Comments Show Broad Support for E-rate, Divide Over Regulating Screen Time
Some of the country’s largest school districts — from New York City to Dallas — have a message for the Federal Communications Commission: The E-Rate program should not become a vehicle for regulating classroom screen time.
UNC-Chapel Hill to Stop Using AI to Rate Admissions Essays
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admissions staff say AI is no longer useful for evaluating essays, because students writing them use AI to avoid the kinds of errors that such tools used to catch.
University of Oxford and DfE begin six-month study into student data use in AI
The research will examine how anonymized school data can support AI development while protecting children's rights, with Ofqual and Oak National Academy contributing to the project The University of Oxford is working with the Department…
Harvard physicist Christopher Stubbs joins Anthropic's AI oversight trust
The former Harvard Dean of Science becomes the trust's first physicist, bringing experience in scientific research, AI and national security to a body with significant influence over Anthropic's governance Christopher Stubbs, Professor…
Ransomware Group Claims Responsibility for Oneonta City Schools Hack
After a cyber incident forced Oneonta City School District to cancel classes last week, a group identifying itself as "Shiba ransomware" told the district it stole information on students, parents and staff.
Federal Report Pins Springfield Schools Cyber Attack on Hacker Group
An investigation into a ransomware attack on Springfield Public Schools found the known hacker group Interlock was responsible for breaking into the district's server and installing malware.
Pennsylvania's School Phone Law Complicates Local Enforcement
Pennsylvania recently became the 24th state to pass a bell-to-bell ban on cellphones in school, but some district officials say the state mandate conflicts with their existing policies that were already effective.
Also reported byChalkbeat
AIAnalysis
Higher Ed Cybersecurity Adapts to Growing AI Threats
Artificial intelligence is changing the cybersecurity landscape in ways traditional higher education cybersecurity models weren’t built to handle. A campus attack surface can be complex, with decentralized IT structures, sprawling…
PolicyTutorial
How K–12 Districts Can Achieve Advanced Cybersecurity Maturity
K–12 districts are increasingly pressured to strengthen their cybersecurity while maintaining agility and cost-efficiency. School IT leaders must move beyond reactive defense and toward operationalized maturity, creating systems that…
Teaching & learningAnalysis
IT Horror Stories: Nightmares From the School Technology Front Lines
GUEST COLUMN | by Dr. Matthew X. Joseph and Carl Hooker Every IT professional has a story that still makes them break out in a cold sweat. Maybe it’s thousands of Chromebooks crashing a network, a back-to-school rollout that spirals…
AIAnalysis
Does an AI Pause Protect Students, or Leave Some Behind?
Artificial intelligence in the classroom comes with risk, but students must learn AI literacy.