Key Takeaways
- Federal policymakers have introduced 19 technology-related bills with implications for students and schools.
- The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) hosted a listening session on "Kids’ Excessive Screen Time" to address concerns about student screen time.
- The House versions of COPPA 2.0 and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) were approved, but AASA expressed concerns about the broad preemption language in these bills.
- The NTIA’s listening session highlighted concerns about excessive student screen time and the value of artificial intelligence in education.
- AASA will continue to monitor developments and advocate for the preservation of the E-Rate program and federal laws that empower schools to maintain robust, privacy-protective safeguards for educational technology.
Introduction to Recent Developments
In recent weeks, federal policymakers have taken significant action on issues affecting children and technology. The House Commerce Committee introduced 19 technology-related bills, many of which have direct implications for students and schools. These bills were marked up on December 11, and while they are not directly connected to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) listening session on "Kids’ Excessive Screen Time," they both signal major shifts in how districts must protect children’s privacy and manage access to inappropriate content on school-purchased devices.
Legislative Package and its Implications
The legislative package introduced by the House Commerce Committee includes the House versions of COPPA 2.0 and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). COPPA 2.0 aims to strengthen protections and impose stricter controls on the online collection, use, and disclosure of personal information for children and teens. KOSA empowers the Federal Trade Commission to safeguard minors from online platforms that use design features to increase engagement and screen time. Both bills passed along party lines, with Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) describing the legislative package as "a comprehensive strategy to protect kids and teens online." However, AASA expressed serious concern about the House COPPA 2.0 and KOSA bills, citing the broad preemption language that could override state laws regulating edtech vendors who handle student data.
Concerns about Edtech Vendors and Educational Screen Time
The broad preemption language in the House COPPA 2.0 and KOSA bills could have unintended consequences for schools using collaborative and gamified edtech platforms to personalize learning. Additional bills, such as the Algorithmic Choice and Transparency Act and the Safer Guarding of Adolescents from Malicious Interactions on Networking Games (GAMING) Act, may also have unintended consequences for schools. The NTIA’s listening session on December 10 highlighted concerns about excessive student screen time, with advocates citing negative impacts on memory, attention, IQ, creative thinking, and critical thinking. However, defenders emphasized that educational screen time, governed by district policies and curriculum, is fundamentally different from unsupervised online activity.
Debates and Growing Concerns
Despite the debates about excessive student screen time and the value of artificial intelligence in education, there is growing concern that Congress or the FCC could require districts to adopt new, potentially problematic policies as a condition for receiving E-Rate discounts. Jon Bernstein, Co-Chair of the Education and Libraries Networks Coalition, clarified that E-Rate is a connectivity program, not a driver of screen time, and that all E-Rate-supported connections are filtered to block inappropriate content. However, critics argued that edtech companies prioritize profits over educational outcomes, and questioned the value and safety of artificial intelligence in education.
Conclusion and Next Steps
AASA will continue to monitor developments at the FCC, NTIA, and in Congress, advocating for the preservation of the E-Rate program and for federal laws that empower schools to maintain robust, privacy-protective safeguards for educational technology. The organization will work to ensure that any new policies or regulations do not have unintended consequences for schools and students. As the legislative package moves to the full House Commerce Committee, AASA will continue to express its concerns and work towards finding solutions that balance the need to protect children’s privacy and manage access to inappropriate content with the need to support innovative and effective educational technologies.