Education technology leaders are pushing Congress to recognize a critical distinction: AI tools designed for learning operate under completely different rules than social media apps designed for engagement. More than 50 education technology experts from school districts and state education agencies across 22 states met with nearly 60 congressional offices on Capitol Hill to press this point, arguing that federal policymakers must craft AI policies that reflect how technology actually functions in classrooms rather than applying blanket restrictions designed for consumer platforms.

What Specific Policies Are Education Leaders Requesting From Congress?

The advocacy effort, known as EdTech Advocacy Day, centered on a fundamental message: educational technology operates under different governance structures than consumer technology. Unlike social media platforms optimized for addictive engagement, classroom AI tools are guided by state standards, district policies, educator expertise, and family involvement. Education leaders emphasized that federal policymakers should recognize this distinction when crafting regulations.

The group presented Congress with five major policy priorities for the 119th Congress, each addressing real challenges schools face when implementing technology responsibly:

• Broadband and Connectivity Funding: Ninety-nine percent of public school students and 45% of private school students depend on internet access funded through E-Rate, a federal program that education leaders want protected and expanded to include cybersecurity funding and mobile Wi-Fi for school buses.
• Teacher Preparation Investment: Advocates urged Congress to allocate at least $2.3 billion for professional development through Title II-A and at least $1.6 billion through Title IV-A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to help educators prepare for digital learning environments.
• Cybersecurity Infrastructure: Federal coordination and funding are essential to help schools integrate cybersecurity into emergency planning, including staffing the Office of Education Technology and restoring support from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for K-12 schools.
• Student Data Privacy Protections: While existing laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) provide a foundation, advocates called for stronger federal technical assistance and educator awareness of privacy best practices.
• Responsible AI Development Standards: Congress should promote safe and effective AI use at the local level, invest in educator capacity and research, and safeguard student rights while avoiding premature restrictions that could limit innovation or worsen educational inequities.

The distinction between educational and consumer technology became a central theme throughout the day's meetings. Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD, emphasized this point directly:

"EdTech Advocacy Day is an important opportunity for policymakers to hear directly from educators about what's actually happening in classrooms when it comes to using tech for learning. At a moment when there is a lot of noise about how much tech to use in schools, our community members showed up with an important reminder: the focus should be on ensuring screen value not setting arbitrary limits on screen time. Age-appropriate technologies that encourage creativity and curiosity should not be banned when used under the guidance of competent educators."

Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD

Why Are Policymakers Struggling to Regulate Classroom AI Effectively?

The timing of this advocacy effort reflects growing complexity in how schools implement AI. As AI tools become more prevalent in classrooms, from adaptive learning systems to literacy support tools and school safety applications, policymakers are struggling to understand how to regulate them without stifling beneficial innovation. The challenge is that federal rules often don't account for the complexity of how schools actually implement technology.

Julia Fallon, Executive Director of SETDA (State Education Technology Directors Association), captured the systemic challenge:

"As conversations around AI and digital learning accelerate, the focus must shift from tools to systems. State education agencies are building the conditions for safe, effective, and accessible use at scale. Federal policy plays a critical role, but it must align with the realities of implementation across states and districts."

Julia Fallon, Executive Director of SETDA

This statement underscores a key tension in education policy: what works in one district may not work in another, and one-size-fits-all regulations can inadvertently harm students in underserved communities who depend most on digital learning tools. The education leaders emphasized that local decision-making authority must be preserved while federal policy provides guardrails for safety and equity.

How Can Schools and Districts Implement AI Responsibly?

Education leaders outlined practical steps that schools should take to ensure AI tools enhance learning rather than replace teacher judgment or compromise student privacy. These recommendations reflect years of classroom experience and implementation challenges:

• Center Implementation on Learning Outcomes: Schools should evaluate AI tools based on whether they strengthen learning, not just whether they save time or reduce administrative burden. This requires educators to be involved in tool selection and ongoing assessment of effectiveness.
• Invest in Educator Training and Capacity: Teachers need professional development to use AI tools effectively, understand their limitations, and maintain their role as the primary decision-maker in student learning. Federal funding for Title II-A and Title IV-A programs is essential to make this training accessible across all districts.
• Establish Clear Data Privacy Protocols: Schools must implement transparent policies about how student data is collected, stored, and used. This includes building awareness among educators, students, and families about privacy best practices and ensuring compliance with FERPA and COPPA regulations.
• Maintain Broadband Infrastructure as a Foundation: Without reliable internet access, AI tools cannot function. Schools must prioritize E-Rate funding and mobile connectivity to ensure equitable access across all communities, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
• Preserve Local Authority in Technology Decisions: Districts and schools know their communities best. Federal policy should set safety and equity standards while allowing local educators to decide which tools and approaches work for their students.

Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN (Consortium for School Networking), summarized the broader message from the Capitol Hill advocacy effort:

"EdTech Advocacy Day is an important chance for federal policymakers to hear directly from educators and education technology experts. This year, leaders from across the country emphasized the importance of policies that strengthen learning, safeguard students, and empower districts to implement education technology that best fits local needs and expectations."

Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN

The advocacy effort represents a coordinated push from major education organizations including CoSN, ISTE+ASCD, SETDA (State Education Technology Directors Association), and SIIA (Software and Information Industry Association). Their unified message signals that the education sector is ready to engage with policymakers on AI regulation, but only if those regulations are informed by classroom realities rather than fears about consumer technology. For Congress, the takeaway is clear: effective AI education policy requires input from educators, not just technologists or politicians.