Evidence is the ticket to enter America's classrooms.
Every digital tool in a young child's day should earn its place. It should help kids learn, keep their data safe, and work for every child. We give policymakers and state and district leaders clear steps to set the standard.
PreK-5 educators, parents of PreK-5 students, & the general public overwhelmingly believe that, when evaluating educational technology, districts and educators should prioritize screen value over screen-time mandates.
Source: InnovateEDU National Survey Results, Technology in Schools, September 2026
Model State Policy
Designed for state lawmakers, this PreK-5 model policy safeguards early learning, play, essential student supports, and data privacy. This model policy sets age-appropriate limits, prohibits AI companions, and helps schools ensure that the digital tools they choose are backed by evidence and add clear instructional value.
Inclusive Access Appendix
Rules that protect learning and play cannot cut off the communication and access tools a child needs to participate. This guide outlines policy guidance and practical strategies to deliver disability supports, language access, and accessible materials so all students can learn.
State (SEA) & Local (LEA) Implementation Playbook
Designed for state and district leaders, this playbook outlines how to train staff, explain technology decisions to families, and ensure uninterrupted student support during tool transitions. Inside, you will find step-by-step implementation cards, turnkey tools, and clear examples defining every role and responsibility.
Download the Playbook
Parent Resource Guide
Families deserve better than blunt bans or simple screen-time limits for classroom technology. Purposeful EdTech focuses on real learning value, strong data privacy, and healthy child development.
Created by InnovateEDU, Cambiar Education, Learning Heroes, and the National Parents Union, this Parent Resource Guide equips families and educators with the right questions to spark school conversations and champion safe, purposeful tech use.
National Survey Findings: Technology in Schools
Between September 2 and September 19, 2026, we surveyed a nationally representative sample (n = 1400) of PK–5 parents and teachers alongside US adults ages 18 through 65. The results reveal a clear public consensus: rather than blunt, all-or-nothing device bans, families want a middle ground rooted in three core priorities:
-
Guardrails Over Blanket Bans: Parents and educators overwhelmingly favor clear, developmentally appropriate guardrails over blunt all-or-nothing device prohibitions.
-
Quality & Purpose Matter Most: Parents draw a sharp distinction between passive screen consumption and active, teacher-guided creation and foundational skill-building.
-
Demand for Transparency: Parents want clear visibility into why teachers select classroom tools, how they protect student data, and how they preserve tactile play.
EdTech Evidence Exchange™
The EdTech Evidence Exchange™ powers narrow, time-limited sandbox and evidence trials and hosts a white-labeled platform for state EdTech registries and district workflows. It gives states and districts practical tools to show parents exactly which technologies they use, when, and for which students, while enabling rigorous, independent evaluation.