Welcome to Playground Post, a bi-weekly newsletter that keeps education innovators ahead of what’s next.

Here’s what we have on deck for today…

1. Phone-free schools cut discipline problems

2. Schools need help decoding privacy laws

3. Federal funding fails to fix education decline

Phone-free schools cut discipline problems

North Adams School District discovered a surprising benefit after banning phones: discipline referrals dropped 75%.

The Massachusetts district isn't alone — schools nationwide that have implemented phone-free policies report:

• Fewer fights

• Fewer students skipping class

• And better focus

At Bentonville Schools in Arkansas, the data tells a clear story: 86% of teachers saw better student engagement. Aggressive behavior fell 57%.

"Almost every disciplinary infraction begins with the phone," notes Superintendent Debbie Jones.

Considering this promising data, it's safe to say more schools may choose to explore phone-free policies, leading to opportunities for education innovators to help schools manage them.

This could include school-wide messaging systems, emergency alert platforms, or tools that let parents check in on their children's whereabouts and academic progress without disrupting phone-free environments.

Schools need help decoding privacy laws

Schools hit by cyberattacks face a daunting challenge: navigating 135 different state privacy laws while managing breach notifications.

A review of 300+ school cyberattacks reveals districts struggling to meet complex compliance requirements, often leading to delayed notifications and legal exposure.

The complexity creates a clear opportunity for innovators.

Schools need affordable tools that can automate breach notifications and streamline compliance across multiple states.

With education ransomware attacks surging 70% last year, the demand for simplified compliance solutions has never been higher.

Federal funding fails to fix education decline

Despite billions in federal recovery funds, public satisfaction with education has hit a 24-year low, with 73% of Americans reporting dissatisfaction. This represents an 11-point drop since 2019, even as schools deploy tutoring and academic support programs.

The disconnect between funding and results signals an urgent opportunity for education innovators.

While traditional recovery approaches struggle to move the needle, organizations that can demonstrate measurable learning gains could find eager partners among the nation's 13,000 school districts currently searching for more effective solutions.

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We’ll be back with another edition on Tuesday. See you then!

To stay up-to-date on all things education innovation, visit us at playgroundpost.com.