On August 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (“DOE”) released a “Dear Colleague Letter”, providing guidance on classroom use of education technology. While recognizing that education technology plays an integral part in providing access to new tools that support personalized instruction and readying students for success in the ever-growing technological industry, the letter also acknowledges the various concerns that come along with the power of technology, including privacy and mental health. Balancing the benefits and detriments of technology requires strategic thought and discussion.
The considerations the DOE noted in the letter as being necessary include (i) distinguishing between policies addressing recreational technology use and those governing instructional technology, (ii) evaluating education technology based on demonstrated learning outcomes and instructional value rather than screen time alone, and (iii) incorporating evidence of effectiveness into procurement and renewal decisions.
The Letter additionally provides guidance for consideration of the technology vendors.
Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) released new guidance to help states, school districts, educators, families, and education technology providers make informed decisions about the responsible use of technology in classrooms.
