New Bill Aims to Rein in Classroom Tech: Lawmakers Say Regulation of Children's Learning Tools Is Long Overdue

April 26, 2026 - 12:46

A growing bipartisan coalition of lawmakers and child safety advocates is pushing forward legislation that would impose strict regulations on the technology used by children in educational settings, arguing that decades of unmonitored digital learning tools have failed to deliver on their promises.

The proposed bill, introduced by Representative Angela Arsenault, a Democrat from Williston, targets the software, apps, and platforms that schools increasingly rely upon for daily instruction. "As there was with social media, there is a mountain of data, and it just keeps growing, that these products don't do what they told us they were going to do," Arsenault said during a committee hearing this week. She emphasized that the legislation is not about banning technology but about demanding accountability from vendors who market their products as essential for student success.

Supporters of the measure point to studies showing that many popular educational apps and adaptive learning systems have little to no proven impact on academic outcomes, while simultaneously collecting vast amounts of sensitive student data. The bill would require independent, third-party efficacy testing before any new digital learning tool could be adopted by public schools. It would also mandate clear disclosures about data collection practices and give parents the right to opt their children out of non-essential tech-based instruction.

Opponents, including some tech industry groups, argue that the regulations could stifle innovation and burden cash-strapped school districts with compliance costs. However, Arsenault countered that the current system already costs taxpayers billions without measurable returns. "We are spending public money on products that are essentially unregulated experiments on our children," she said. "This is overdue, and it is time to put student well-being ahead of corporate profits." The bill is expected to face further debate in the coming weeks.