Analysis
State Education Policy
States are using new laws and nonbinding guidance to address access to schools and books, student devices and artificial intelligence. Massachusetts enacted laws aimed at preventing book bans in schools and libraries and keeping federal immigration enforcement officers out of schools, hospitals and courthouses. Connecticut adopted guidance recommending bell-to-bell limits on students’ personal devices and addressing classroom screen time, while Illinois issued a framework for district decisions on AI in teaching and operations; neither sets statewide classroom mandates.
0
Stories · 30 days
4
Stories · 90 days
3
States
3
Sources
Recurring themes
Where it is happening
Shading reflects how many published stories mention each state. Blank states have no stories in the database yet.
Who is reporting it
- Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education2 stories
- Connecticut State Department of Education1 story
- Illinois State Board of Education1 story
The stories behind this analysis
Governor Healey Signs Freedom to Read Law Keeping Book Bans out of Massachusetts Schools and Libraries
Massachusetts Governor Healey signed a law aimed at preventing book bans in schools and libraries across the state, affecting access to books in both settings.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education · Massachusetts · 2026-08-10
Governor Healey Signs PROTECT Act to Keep ICE out of Courthouses, Schools and Hospitals
In Massachusetts, Gov. Healey signed the PROTECT Act, a measure to keep federal immigration enforcement officers out of school buildings, hospitals and courthouses.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education · Massachusetts · 2026-08-05
Connecticut Releases Updated Position Statement and Guidance on the Use of Personal and Purposeful Technology in Schools
Connecticut's State Board of Education adopted guidance recommending bell-to-bell limits on students' personal devices and addressing classroom screen time. It does not impose a statewide mandate.
Connecticut State Department of Education · Connecticut · 2026-08-05
ISBE Releases Statewide Guidance on Artificial Intelligence in Schools
The Illinois State Board of Education issued a framework to help K-12 districts decide how to use AI in teaching and operations. It includes policy tools but sets no statewide classroom mandates.
Illinois State Board of Education · IL · 2026-07-09
How this analysis is created
Every story K-12 News publishes is read and tagged with its topic, state, organisations and key terms. Stories describing the same development are grouped, then counted over time to show what is growing, holding steady or fading. Figures come from the stories themselves and each analysis links to the original reporting. Where there are too few stories to compare periods fairly, we say so rather than showing a percentage.
Get the K-12 News Brief
The latest district, vendor, and education news we're tracking, in your inbox.
Email only, no password. Optional — all news stays free to read.
