States Move to Regulate Educational Software as Screen Time Worries Intensify

Amid growing concerns over children’s screen time in schools, a new focus has emerged: the way educational software is vetted before reaching classrooms. While much of the recent debate has centered on banning cellphones, many parents and educators now argue that school-issued devices—and the software they run—pose similar risks. As Kim Whitman, co-lead of Smartphone Free Childhood US, told EdSurge, “A lot of the issues with personal devices can move to the district-issued devices.” She noted that students can still message friends on Chromebooks or collaborate via tools like Google Docs, even without phones. “There are definitely issues with school-issued devices as well.”

The Push for Better Vetting Processes

Currently, most school districts rely on internal IT staff, administrators, or school boards to choose educational software vendors. These decisions often depend on the vendors’ own claims about safety and effectiveness. “There is nobody right now that is confirming these products are safe, effective and legal,” Whitman said in a previous interview. “It should not fall on the district’s IT director; it would be impossible for them to do it. And the companies should not be tasked with doing it — that would be like nicotine companies vetting their own cigarettes.” This lack of independent oversight has prompted legislative action in several states.

Legislative Responses in Three States

At the start of the 2025 legislative session, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont each introduced proposals to overhaul the vetting process for educational technology. While the bills differ in scope, they share a common goal: establishing state-level certification to ensure that digital tools used in schools are safe, effective, and aligned with curriculum standards.

Vermont’s Bill: A Model for Certification

The most detailed proposal comes from Vermont. Its bill—officially titled An act relating to educational technology products—passed the House on March 27 and is now before the Senate Committee on Education. Key provisions include:

• Annual registration for all providers of student-facing educational technology products used for teaching and learning.
• A $100 registration fee and submission of up-to-date terms of service and privacy policies.
• Review by the secretary of state in coordination with the Vermont Agency of Education.
• Certification criteria covering:
  • Compliance with state curriculum standards
  • Advantages over non-digital methods
  • Explicit educational purpose
  • Design features such as artificial intelligence, geotracking, and targeted advertising

The original bill included fines of $50 per day (up to $10,000) for non-certified providers still operating, but the House removed that language before passing the bill. If the Senate approves, Vermont will become one of the first states to enforce a formal edtech certification process.

Rhode Island and Utah’s Proposals

Rhode Island’s bill similarly calls for a review of how educational software is vetted, emphasizing the need for transparent criteria and independent oversight. Utah’s proposal focuses on requiring vendors to disclose data collection practices and to prove that their products improve learning outcomes. Both states are in early legislative stages, but they signal a growing bipartisan concern about the unregulated nature of the edtech market.

Broader Implications for Education Technology

These legislative moves reflect a deeper shift: parents and teachers are no longer willing to accept vendor promises at face value. The backlash against screen time is extending from personal devices to school-issued tools. As Whitman argues, without state-level certification, districts are left with an impossible task. “It would be impossible for them to do it,” she said of IT directors.

If adopted widely, such laws could reshape the edtech industry. Companies would need to prove their products meet state standards—potentially creating a patchwork of regulations but also offering a baseline of safety. For schools, the benefit is clear: greater assurance that the digital tools students use daily are not only effective but also free from exploitative features like hidden advertising or data mining.

The coming months will be crucial as Vermont’s Senate committee debates the bill, and as Rhode Island and Utah advance their own versions. For now, the conversation around screen time in schools has moved beyond mere restriction to demand accountability from the entire edtech ecosystem.