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. Bold push for school choice (and why it matters)

2. DOE calls for phone policies

3. AI education paradox

Bold push for school choice (and why it matters)

The school choice landscape is shifting as we head into 2025.

• Former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway revealed that while Trump was once hesitant about federal involvement in school choice, he's now championing policies to "follow the student" rather than fund bureaucracy.

• With Republicans controlling Congress and growing bipartisan support (including Democratic Gov. Jared Polis), momentum is building for federal action — from tax credits for private school scholarships to allowing school meal subsidies to follow students to private schools.

The political climate for school choice initiatives is warming up.

If you're developing educational products, services, or platforms, consider how your solution could serve a more diverse ecosystem of learning environments — from traditional schools to microschools and everything in between.

The key will be demonstrating clear impact and outcomes as funding becomes more flexible.

DOE calls for phone policies

The U.S. Education Department just called for every school in America to develop clear cellphone policies.

While 8 states — California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia — have already banned or restricted cellphones in schools, the fed is not dictating a one-size-fits-all approach.

They’re advocating for “research-informed” local solutions that balance real concerns:

1. Addictive social media algorithms

2. Emergency communications

3. Mental health risks

This federal guidance highlights a massive gap in education innovation — we still need better solutions that balance safety, learning, and mental health.

There’s a huge opportunity to develop tools and frameworks to help schools implement effective phone policies while keeping students engaged and parents connected.

AI education paradox

New Walton Family Foundation research reveals a fascinating paradox: while over 80% of teachers, parents, and students report AI having a positive impact on education, most schools are flying blind without formal policies or training programs.

Despite widespread "unauthorized" use of AI tools in classrooms, stakeholders aren't looking to ban them — they're actually calling for clear guidelines on how to use them effectively.

This policy vacuum creates an opportunity to develop AI governance frameworks that schools can adapt, or tools that help track and manage AI usage in educational settings.

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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.