August 31, 2026
Written by Noelle Ellerson Ng, Associate Executive Director for Advocacy & Governance
Ed Tech Update
The U.S. Department of Education (USED) released new, non-binding guidance on Responsible Use of Education Technology in the Classroom. The guidance is intended as a resource for schools and districts, not an enforceable requirement.
Overall, it encourages a more intentional, evidence-based approach to technology use, with instructional value and student learning driving decisions rather than screen time or engagement alone.
For school leaders, USED suggests asking five questions when considering an ed tech tool:
- What learning problem does it solve?
- When should it be used?
- Who should use it?
- How long should it be used?
- What evidence shows that it improves student learning?
The guidance also encourages districts to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of technology and discontinue tools that are not demonstrating meaningful benefits.
Student Privacy Update
USED also issued its annual Dear Colleague letter on FERPA and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), with this year’s guidance placing greater emphasis on PPRA.
One notable change is USED’s interpretation of parental consent for student surveys involving eight categories of protected information. The new guidance says schools must obtain written parental consent before students participate, rather than relying on an opt-out process.
The guidance also addresses behavioral health screeners, annual notifications of rights, third-party education technology, and the use of personal devices in schools.
Background: FERPA protects the privacy of student education records and establishes parents’ rights related to those records. PPRA provides parents and students with rights related to certain surveys, evaluations, screenings, and instructional materials.