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Carahsoft Launches Community to Aid K-12 Schools in AI Adoption and Cyber Readiness

Carahsoft Launches Community to Aid K-12 Schools in AI Adoption and Cyber Readiness

Carahsoft has introduced a new community initiative designed to support K-12 schools and districts in navigating the complexities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption and enhancing cyber readiness. Named 'Empowering Tomorrow's Digital Citizens,' this community provides curated guidance, tools, and resources tailored for education leaders. The offerings include frameworks for AI readiness and cybersecurity, regulatory guidance, district readiness resources, an AI readiness slide deck, and an AI integration manual. Additionally, the resource center features relevant events, procurement options, an E-rate blueprint, and an interactive grant funding platform powered by GrantLeads.AI. Members who sign up will also receive books on AI and cybersecurity for children, co-authored by Alexis Bonnell, head of AI Adoption & Deployment in Government at OpenAI.
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Agilix Labs Develops AI-Powered Grading Assistant BusyBee on Amazon Bedrock

Agilix Labs Develops AI-Powered Grading Assistant BusyBee on Amazon Bedrock

Agilix Labs has developed BusyBee, an AI-powered grading assistant built on Amazon Bedrock and integrated into its Buzz learning management system. BusyBee is designed to generate draft written feedback on student submissions within minutes, significantly reducing the time it traditionally takes for educators to provide feedback. This AI tool has already processed over 5.3 million submissions at K-12 production scale. Agilix Labs is recognized as an EdTech Champion 2026 for using AWS to make learning more personalized, accessible, and efficient, while giving educators and institutions new ways to use AI at scale.
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LAUSD Blocks Student Access to Generative AI, Raises Questions on AI Literacy Education

LAUSD Blocks Student Access to Generative AI, Raises Questions on AI Literacy Education

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has implemented a restriction blocking students from accessing generative artificial intelligence (AI) on district-issued devices, a policy that took effect this school year but was not widely publicized until recently. This move marks a departure from the district's previous policy, which allowed students aged 13 and older to use approved generative AI tools after completing digital citizenship instruction. The restriction applies across all grade levels, with the district utilizing firewalls and web-filtering software to block AI-related online content. While teachers retain access to generative AI for their own professional development and instructional planning, the district has not yet clarified how students will be taught about AI literacy during this moratorium. The decision has garnered praise from some parent advocates, who argue students can learn about AI critically without direct use, but has also raised concerns from education researchers about p...
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National Trust for Local News Acquires Five Vermont Newspapers, Expanding Nonprofit Model

National Trust for Local News Acquires Five Vermont Newspapers, Expanding Nonprofit Model

National Trust for Local News Acquires Five Vermont Newspapers, Expanding Nonprofit Model
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Chicago School Board Candidates Advocate for AI Moratorium and Screen Time Limits

Chicago School Board Candidates Advocate for AI Moratorium and Screen Time Limits

A significant majority of Chicago School Board candidates, including 24 out of 42 on the ballot, have signed a pledge supporting a three-year moratorium on generative AI in Chicago Public Schools. This initiative, spearheaded by Illinois Families for Public Schools, also calls for strict screen time restrictions, including a complete ban on one-to-one digital device use for students before third grade. The pledge further seeks to prohibit the collection of biometric information from students and establish a chief privacy officer within the district. This movement reflects growing concerns among parents and educators regarding student privacy, the potential negative impact of excessive screen time on learning outcomes, and the responsible integration of new technologies in education. The Chicago Teachers Union has endorsed 15 of the candidates who signed the pledge, indicating broad support for these measures among key educational stakeholders in the city. The district has clarified that while Google Gemini...
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MANE Acquires Cvista to Establish Florida Citrus and Beverage Center of Excellence

MANE Acquires Cvista to Establish Florida Citrus and Beverage Center of Excellence

MANE Acquires Cvista to Establish Florida Citrus and Beverage Center of Excellence
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Heineken Retains Sidley Austin LLP for Legal Counsel in FIFCO USA Acquisition by Saothair Capital Partners

Heineken Retains Sidley Austin LLP for Legal Counsel in FIFCO USA Acquisition by Saothair Capital Partners

Heineken Retains Sidley Austin LLP for Legal Counsel in FIFCO USA Acquisition by Saothair Capital Partners
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New York City Public Schools Implement AI Ban and Screen Time Limits for Younger Students

New York City Public Schools Implement AI Ban and Screen Time Limits for Younger Students

New York City Public Schools has announced a comprehensive policy that includes a one-year ban on student-facing generative AI for students through eighth grade and new age-based screen time guidelines. This decision, impacting nearly 600,000 public school students, prohibits all software where students directly interact with generative AI, including companion chatbots across all grades. For screen time, students in second grade and below will have no one-to-one screen time. Students in grades three to five will have a recommended cap of 30 minutes per day, while grades six to eight will have a recommended cap of 45 minutes per day. Exceptions are made for assistive technology for students with individualized education plans, disabilities, or English Language Learners. High school students will be introduced to limited AI pilots and will receive twice-yearly AI literacy classes focusing on bias, risks, ethical considerations, and AI's impact on careers.
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Valence Surface Technologies Acquires Cametoid Technologies, Bolstering Aerospace Surface Finishing Capabilities

Valence Surface Technologies Acquires Cametoid Technologies, Bolstering Aerospace Surface Finishing Capabilities

Valence Surface Technologies Acquires Cametoid Technologies, Bolstering Aerospace Surface Finishing Capabilities
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Saothair Capital Partners Acquires FIFCO USA, Reinstates North American Breweries Name

Saothair Capital Partners Acquires FIFCO USA, Reinstates North American Breweries Name

Saothair Capital Partners Acquires FIFCO USA, Reinstates North American Breweries Name
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School Leaders Urged to Mobilize Communities to Protect E-Rate Funding Amid Scrutiny

School Leaders Urged to Mobilize Communities to Protect E-Rate Funding Amid Scrutiny

School district leaders are being called upon to rally their communities to protect the E-Rate program, which provides crucial funding for internet connectivity in American schools and libraries. A recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking has raised questions about the program's future, including whether its mission is accomplished, if funding should be restricted to rural areas, or if it should be curtailed due to concerns about student screen time. The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) emphasizes that a reduction or elimination of E-Rate funding would force districts to divert general funds, potentially leading to cuts in teaching positions and educational programs. School leaders are advised to reframe the narrative, decouple E-Rate from the screen time debate, translate data into human impact, and equip their communities with tools for advocacy.
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NYC Schools to Ban Student AI Tools in K-8 and Implement Screen Time Limits

NYC Schools to Ban Student AI Tools in K-8 and Implement Screen Time Limits

New York City public schools are set to introduce new guidelines that will ban student-facing artificial intelligence tools for grades 2-K through 8. Additionally, the policy will impose limits on classroom screen time for students. Specifically, individual devices will not be provided to students in preschool through second grade. For students in grades 3 to 5, screen time on individual devices will be capped at 30 minutes, while middle school students will have a 45-minute limit. High school students will have restricted access to AI, though it may be utilized for literacy, career readiness programs, and in five pilot programs. The Education Department officials emphasize that younger students require hands-on learning, social interaction, and teacher-guided instruction, and routine individual screen use can hinder these experiences. Teachers will be permitted to use approved AI tools for instructional tasks like lesson planning and translation, but not for grading, behavior monitoring, or developing spe...