A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that K-12 education systems around the United States – particularly some of those in rural areas – are facing significant challenges in fully realizing the benefits of Federal government funding for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

The White House has announced that more than 60 companies have joined its pledge to provide K-12 students with resources to ready the next generation of workers for an AI-driven economy.  

In response to the growing cybersecurity threats facing America’s public schools, the Institute for Security and Technology (IST) has launched the K–12 Cyber Defense Coalition (K12 CDC) – a new national partnership made up of 13 education organizations working to protect schools from cyberattacks and improve response strategies.

The University of South Florida (USF) is partnering with local community groups to launch a range of new initiatives aimed at arming K-12 students with artificial intelligence skills. 

The Missouri state Senate voted on May 13 to approve a bill that will require public school districts and charter schools in the state to adopt formal policies restricting K-12 student use of electronic personal communication devices during the school day.

The state of New York is mandating “bell-to-bell” restrictions on K-12 student use of smartphones  beginning in the 2025–2026 school year.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law on April 30 that will restrict access by public school K-12 students to smartphones and other electronic devices during school instructional hours.

K-12 teachers are adopting generative AI (GenAI) technologies in the classroom at a greater rate than their higher education counterparts, according to new national survey data from the global edtech firm Cengage Group.

The number of U.S. school districts providing training for teachers on artificial intelligence technologies has more than doubled in the span of a year, with 48 percent of districts offering at least some AI training by fall 2024 – up from just 23 percent the year before.

Florida Virtual School (FLVS), an online K–12 school primarily operating in the state of Florida, has introduced a year-long “Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Math” supplemental certification for middle and high school students.