AI + K–12 Daily Brief · 2026-09-28

Brick Township board votes to replace student device policy with bell-to-bell internet-device ban

The Brick Township Board of Education voted Thursday night to replace its student-device policy, shifting from restrictions centered on recording devices to a ban on internet-enabled devices during the school day. The article says the new policy covers smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and smart glasses, with exceptions including documented health needs, accommodations and emergencies.

Why it matters: The change is a substantial local policy decision, not merely implementation of a statewide rule. Districts considering similar restrictions will need to account for the listed exceptions and communicate how students can reach families during the day.

Limits: The supplied report describes the board’s vote but does not give the policy’s effective date.

Published 2026-09-25. Source: https://shorebeat.com/brick/2026/09/brick-school-board-adopts-bell-to-bell-device-ban-for-students/

Northwest Allen County Schools uses state grant to license MagicSchool for about 8,860 people

Northwest Allen County Schools is using MagicSchool under a one-year license purchased with a $37,500 Indiana Department of Education grant. The license covers every teacher and student in the district, about 8,860 people. The Journal Gazette also reports that administrators plan to use platform-usage information to inform future purchasing decisions.

Why it matters: The districtwide license makes this a consequential procurement and implementation, while the one-year term gives leaders a defined period to assess use before future purchasing decisions.

Limits: The reported classroom benefits are attributed to educators and students; the article does not establish independent evidence of learning efficacy.

Published 2026-09-25. Source: https://www.journalgazette.net/local/schools/northwest-allen-county-schools-teachers-add-artificial-intelligence-to-their-toolbox/article_b91243b5-5f97-4d99-b8b5-ed6c4eb71090.html

Farmington will measure classroom screen use before deciding what to cut

Farmington Public Schools will have EdAdvance survey parents, students and teachers, record three weeks of network traffic, visit as many as 200 classrooms and review curriculum over 90 to 120 days. The findings are to go to the Board of Education and the public; the district is measuring screen use before deciding how much to cut.

Why it matters: The district is gathering multiple forms of evidence before making further screen-time decisions. Leaders should keep the study’s scope and the limits of network and classroom observations clear when interpreting its findings.

Limits: The article is local reporting and the study has not yet produced results; its network-traffic observation period will not be disclosed in advance.

Published 2026-09-26. Source: https://farmingtonmercury.com/education/farmington-schools-screen-time-study-edadvance-2026