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New Mexico Task Force Recommends Eliminating K-2 Screen Time in Schools

New Mexico Task Force Recommends Eliminating K-2 Screen Time in Schools

A legislative task force in New Mexico has recommended that the state's education department consider issuing guidelines to eliminate screen time for students in kindergarten through second grade. The Screen Use Legislative Task Force, formed after House Memorial 2, conducted a study on screen time use in elementary classrooms. The task force, comprising Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) analysts, New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) officials, district administrators, teachers, and students, cited research from the University of Michigan indicating that the average age children regularly engage with screen media is four months old. The recommendations also suggest minimizing nonessential screen time for K-12 students and limiting access to entertainment and social media applications. However, LESC Chair Sen. William Soules (D-Las Cruces) expressed concern that the legislative committee cannot compel the NMPED to act without direct statutory language. The task force advised placing gui...

Alabama Commission on Screen-Based Instruction Hears Recommendations on Classroom Screen Usage

Alabama Commission on Screen-Based Instruction Hears Recommendations on Classroom Screen Usage

An Alabama state commission, established by Governor Kay Ivey in July, recently convened to hear recommendations regarding the optimal use of screens in classrooms. The Commission on Screen-Based Instruction received presentations from White Board Advisors, a Washington D.C.-based consulting firm, and the Screen Use Impact on Teachers subcommittee. A survey conducted by the subcommittee among 61 K-12 teachers revealed that 67% utilize screens for assignments or practice, and 54% use devices for testing purposes. Chris Jenks, a committee member and technology director for Tuscaloosa City Schools, noted that Alabama has maintained or advanced achievement levels, with many assessments delivered via screens. The commission was formed after Governor Ivey signed HB 78, which sets screen usage limits for children up to five years old in licensed childcare facilities. An earlier bill, HB 584, which aimed to place screen time limits on all public K-12 students, did not pass the Senate.

Avantis Education Launches New VR Math and Language Learning Experiences for K-12 Students

Avantis Education Launches New VR Math and Language Learning Experiences for K-12 Students

Avantis Education, known for its ClassVR headsets, has introduced two new immersive learning libraries to its Eduverse+ platform: EscapeRooms for K-8 math and LingoLab for 6-12 Spanish and English language learning. EscapeRooms offers five themed virtual reality experiences where students solve puzzles and answer rapid-fire questions in timed challenges, available in eight languages. Themes include 'Shark Lab' and 'The Floor Is Lava,' designed to build core math skills. LingoLab provides over 60 immersive experiences, utilizing 360-degree videos and 3D models, aligned with ACTFL, WIDA, CEFR, and Oxford 3000 standards for language proficiency. These new libraries are available to existing Eduverse+ customers at no additional cost, expanding the platform's offerings which already include EduverseAI, WildWorld, STEAM3D, and CareerHub.

Rosetta Stone Offers Immersive Digital Language Learning with Flexible Subscriptions

Rosetta Stone Offers Immersive Digital Language Learning with Flexible Subscriptions

Rosetta Stone, a language learning company established in 1992, provides digital courses designed to enhance communication skills through immersive experiences. The platform offers a diverse array of language courses, integrating technology, speech recognition, and practical exercises to facilitate learning. Customers can choose from various subscription models, including 3-month, 12-month, or lifetime plans. Payments are accepted via major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and through PayPal. The company maintains a customer satisfaction policy, allowing users to request a refund within 30 days of payment if they are not satisfied with the service. Notably, Rosetta Stone does not offer free trials for its language programs. The company is part of the IXL Learning family of brands, which focuses on comprehensive K-12 personalized learning solutions.

Digital Detox Retreats Offer Structured Breaks from Technology for Enhanced Well-being

Digital Detox Retreats Offer Structured Breaks from Technology for Enhanced Well-being

Digital Detox Retreats Offer Structured Breaks from Technology for Enhanced Well-being

The Columbus Dispatch

Vivek Ramaswamy gets no more than an 'F' when it comes to education. Here's why | Opinion

Vivek Ramaswamy gets no more than an 'F' when it comes to education. Here's why | Opinion

Can you claim to champion education while ignoring universal pre-K? That's the question behind this failing grade for Vivek Ramaswamy.

AI Reshaping Student Success and Mental Health Support in U.S. Higher Education

AI Reshaping Student Success and Mental Health Support in U.S. Higher Education

Artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing various aspects of student success in U.S. higher education, extending beyond academic integrity to encompass learning, emotional support, and career preparation. Colleges are exploring AI to proactively identify students who may be struggling, as exemplified by Austin Community College's Digital Twin Initiative, which uses AI and real-time student data to connect students with resources like advising and mental health services more quickly. A survey by Uwill, a digital mental health platform, indicates that high school seniors are significantly more likely than college seniors to turn to AI for emotional support, with 21% of high schoolers citing a lack of other trusted individuals to talk to. Furthermore, students express a desire for institutions to teach them how to use AI effectively and responsibly, with 56% of respondents in an Inside Higher Ed survey identifying this as a key institutional responsibility. Institutions like Santa Clara University a...

Representative Panetta Co-Leads SEED Act, Expanding Tax Deduction for Early Childhood Educators

Representative Panetta Co-Leads SEED Act, Expanding Tax Deduction for Early Childhood Educators

U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta, D-Santa Cruz, has co-led the Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act, which has been signed into law. This bipartisan legislation expands the existing educator expense deduction to include pre-kindergarten and other eligible early childhood educators. Previously, this federal tax deduction was primarily available to K-12 teachers for classroom expenses. The SEED Act aims to provide financial relief and recognition to a broader range of educators who often incur out-of-pocket costs for classroom supplies and materials. The announcement of the bill's signing was made by Representative Panetta's office, highlighting his active involvement in legislative efforts to support the education sector.

Avantis Education Introduces New VR Math and Language Learning Experiences for K-12 Students

Avantis Education Introduces New VR Math and Language Learning Experiences for K-12 Students

Avantis Education has launched two new immersive learning libraries, EscapeRooms and LingoLab, for its Eduverse+ platform. EscapeRooms is a math suite designed for K-8 students, featuring five themed virtual reality (VR) experiences where students solve puzzles and answer rapid-fire questions to escape a themed room. These challenges are available in eight languages and can be adapted for various age groups, with durations of two, four, and eight minutes. LingoLab is a language learning suite for students in grades 6-12, offering over 60 immersive experiences in Spanish and English. These experiences utilize 360-degree videos and 3D models, aligning with ACTFL proficiency guidelines, WIDA English Language Development standards, CEFR, and the Oxford 3000. Both new libraries are available to existing Eduverse+ customers at no additional cost.

Willis High School Implements Metal Detectors and Bag Searches Following Second Gun Discovery

Willis High School Implements Metal Detectors and Bag Searches Following Second Gun Discovery

Willis High School in Willis, Texas, will implement new security measures, including mandatory metal detector screenings for all students and backpack searches, starting Tuesday, September 22, 2026. This decision follows the discovery of a second gun on campus this school year on Monday, September 21. School administrators found a loaded gun in a student's backpack, leading to the student's custody and a campus hold. This incident is the latest in a series of four 'gun-related' events within five weeks, though the district confirmed only two involved actual firearms. Parents, including Jennifer Granton, expressed significant safety concerns and initiated a petition for metal detectors, questioning why such measures were not already in place given their use at school sporting events.

Oklahoma Schools Face Growing Push to Limit Classroom Screen Time

Oklahoma Schools Face Growing Push to Limit Classroom Screen Time

Oklahoma parents, lawmakers, and school districts are actively debating the appropriate use of school-issued technology in classrooms, particularly in the wake of the pandemic-driven expansion of laptops, tablets, and digital lessons. This discussion has led to various responses, including a legislative effort to cap elementary screen time, parent-led campaigns advocating for more traditional pencil-and-paper instruction, and diverse district policies ranging from continued 1-to-1 device programs to the discontinuation of individual Chromebook assignments. Governor Kevin Stitt previously signed House Bill 1276 into law, establishing a permanent statewide ban on student cellphones and personal devices in K-12 public schools, following a successful one-year pilot program under Senate Bill 139. Oklahoma legislative leaders have noted social improvements, such as increased library book checkouts and more face-to-face student interaction, since the initial phone ban.

Semmelweis University Research Identifies Problematic Smartphone Use Beyond Total Screen Time

Semmelweis University Research Identifies Problematic Smartphone Use Beyond Total Screen Time

Research from Semmelweis University indicates that problematic smartphone use is influenced less by personality traits alone and more by weak self-control and a strong fear of missing out (FOMO). The study, published in Acta Psychologica, examined smartphone habits, mental health, physical well-being, and cognitive performance among students aged 18 to 35. It found a distinction between the mental and physical effects of smartphone use: how people use their phones is closely tied to attention and memory, while total screen time is more strongly associated with bodily consequences. Participants were categorized into 'pure social' users, 'light process' users (less than four to five hours daily for content consumption), and 'heavy process' users (four to five hours or more daily, primarily consuming content). 'Heavy process' users performed worse on cognitive tests related to attention and memory and experienced poorer sleep. The study also highlighted that passive content consumption, such as endless scroll...