Policy

A petition signed by more than 400 K-12 parents is calling for Ann Arbor Public Schools to do more than just restrict cellphone use while class is in session. They want phones out of the way throughout the school day.

Plus, Arkansas is offering technology training to residents, North Carolina is investing in recovering broadband infrastructure after Hurricane Helene, rural broadband legislation has been introduced, and more.

California's tech companies, the epicenter of the state's economy, sent politicians a loud message this year: Back down from restrictive artificial intelligence regulation or they'll leave.

Despite being one of the most flexible funding sources for educator development, Title II-A dollars remain an overlooked source of funding for technology training and professional learning.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan opened the second annual GovAI Coalition Summit by announcing a new public-private partnership initiative to bring artificial intelligence education to any resident who wants it.

A bill proposed by state representatives would empower the Attorney General to investigate, issue cease-and-desist orders and seek civil penalties against AI companies of up to $50,000 per violation.

Some say that what began as a modest incentive meant to foster economic development in a nascent field became a billion-dollar windfall of questionable effectiveness.

A month of amnesty on parking ticket penalties in Syracuse, N.Y., will begin with in-person or mail payments. Online payments will follow — once more than 140,000 tickets dating to 1997 are set up in the system.

The American Council on Education’s Jon Fansmith anticipates major impacts on higher education from federal policies such as the reconciliation bill, the government shutdown and the targeting of international students.

A recent report by RAND Corp found that three quarters of school principals feel phone bans have improved school climate and reduced behavior problems, and only one in 20 said they placed new burdens on administrators.

The state has created a modernized process for getting regulations, economic impact statements and environmental benefit statements published to its administrative regulation website and to the Kansas Register.

Through the new Vulnerability Disclosure Program, state officials invite ethical hackers and residents to help identify and report online vulnerabilities. The initiative covers a range of agencies and partners.

Tariffs are having direct impacts on technology costs, and indirect ones on tuition revenue and institutional planning. This is pushing universities and ed-tech companies alike to explore creative financing options.

Officials from the Pennsylvania State Education Association, formerly opposed to any top-down mandate from the state, were among those who gave testimony in support of a “bell-to-bell” ban, with limited exceptions.

As data centers drive a surge in power demand, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers in Maryland are pressing the operator of the region’s null to ensure residents aren’t left footing the bill.

A new report from CHARGE makes the case for federal spending on clean transportation projects, saying these initiatives grow private investment, create jobs and transition the country toward an improved mobility landscape.

After this year, Oklahoma school boards will have the option to decide whether to keep their current phone-use restrictions in place. Based on results they're seeing so far, it seems likely that many will do so.

Since enacting restrictions on cellphones in school, educators are reporting positive trends in student engagement, discipline and academic achievement, and students have attested to improved focus and mental health.