States Move to Rein in Edtech: New Bills Target Software Vetting Amid Screen Time Fears

The Growing Alarm Over Digital Devices in Schools

For years, parents and educators have focused their concerns on smartphones – the constant notifications, social media distractions, and the toll on students' mental health. But as schools increasingly provide laptops and other digital tools for classroom use, a new source of unease has emerged: the software that powers these devices. While personal cellphones have faced bans and restrictions, district-issued devices have largely escaped similar scrutiny. However, a growing chorus of critics argues that the vetting process for educational technology (edtech) itself is flawed, potentially exposing students to privacy risks, addictive design, and ineffective learning tools.

Kim Whitman, co-lead of Smartphone Free Childhood US, previously told EdSurge that the problems with personal devices don't disappear when schools hand out Chromebooks. “There are definitely issues with school-issued devices as well,” she said, noting that students can still message each other through Google Docs or chat functions in learning platforms. This realization has sparked a push for more rigorous oversight – not just of devices, but of the software that runs on them.

Why the Current Vetting Process Falls Short

In most school districts, the decision to adopt an edtech product rests on school boards, IT directors, or administrators. They often rely on the vendor's own claims about safety, effectiveness, and compliance with student privacy laws. Whitman compared this to “nicotine companies vetting their own cigarettes” – a self-policing system that lacks independent verification. There is no state or federal entity currently confirming that these products are safe, effective, and legal before they enter classrooms. The burden falls on busy district staff who may not have the expertise or time to thoroughly evaluate every tool. This gap has led to a wave of legislative proposals aimed at creating a more transparent and accountable vetting process.

Three States, Three Bills: A Coordinated Effort

At the start of the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers in Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont each introduced bills to revamp how educational software is reviewed and approved. While the specifics vary, the common goal is to establish state-level certification or registration requirements for edtech products. Among these, Vermont's bill has advanced furthest, passing the House of Representatives on March 27 and now awaiting action in the Senate.

Vermont’s Blueprint for Edtech Certification

The Vermont bill, formally titled “An act relating to educational technology products,” creates a comprehensive framework for certifying student-facing software used in K-12 schools. Here’s what it proposes:

Annual Registration and a $100 Fee

All providers of educational technology products that are used for teaching and learning must register annually with the Vermont Secretary of State. Along with a $100 registration fee, each vendor must submit its most recent terms and conditions and privacy policy. The Secretary of State, in collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Education, will review these registrations to ensure compliance with the state’s new certification standard.

Criteria for Certification

The bill outlines several key criteria that a product must meet to receive certification:

• Alignment with state curriculum standards – The software must support Vermont’s learning goals.
• Advantages over non-digital methods – Vendors must demonstrate that using the digital product provides a clear benefit compared to traditional, offline approaches.
• Explicitly educational purpose – The tool must be designed primarily for teaching and learning, not for entertainment or other uses.
• Transparency about design features – The review will examine whether the product includes artificial intelligence, geotracking, or targeted advertising, and ensure these features are appropriate for students.

An earlier version of the bill included steep fines – $50 per day up to $10,000 – for providers that continued to operate without certification. However, that penalty language was removed in the final House-passed version. If the Senate approves the bill, Vermont would become one of the first states to implement a mandatory edtech certification system.

What This Could Mean for Schools and Vendors

If other states follow Vermont’s lead, the edtech market could see a significant shift. Schools would have a clearer, state-approved list of safe and effective tools, reducing the burden on individual districts. Vendors would face a new layer of accountability – and a potential barrier to entry – that could drive improvements in privacy and pedagogical value. On the other hand, critics worry that a one-size-fits-all state certification process could stifle innovation or limit choices for schools that need flexibility.

Conclusion: A Step Toward Reclaiming Classroom Attention

The push to reform edtech vetting is part of a larger movement to manage screen time and digital distraction in schools. While banning personal devices is one piece of the puzzle, ensuring that the software on school-issued devices is truly educational, safe, and free from exploitative design is equally important. The bills in Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont signal that lawmakers are beginning to treat edtech with the same seriousness as other student safety issues. For parents and teachers concerned about the digital environment in classrooms, this could be a welcome change.