From Cellphones to Chromebooks: States Propose New Standards for Edtech Vetting

The Growing Unease Over Classroom Technology

As debates over screen time in schools intensify, a fresh target has emerged: the way educational software is vetted. For years, parents and teachers have mobilized against cellphones in classrooms, but school-issued laptops and their accompanying software largely escaped criticism. Now, however, scrutiny is shifting. “A lot of the issues with personal devices can move to the district-issued devices,” said Kim Whitman, co-lead of Smartphone Free Childhood US, in a previous interview. She noted that even without cellphones, students can message each other on Chromebooks or through platforms like Google Docs. “There are definitely issues with school-issued devices as well,” she added.

In response, lawmakers in three states—Vermont, Rhode Island, and Utah—have introduced bills to overhaul the vetting process for edtech products, aiming to ensure that the digital tools used in schools are safe, effective, and privacy-compliant.

From Personal Devices to District-Issued Tools

For the past several years, the conversation about screen time focused almost exclusively on smartphones. Studies linked excessive cellphone use to distraction, sleep disruption, and mental health issues in students. But as schools replaced personal phones with district-owned devices like Chromebooks and iPads, many of the same problems surfaced.

Whitman highlighted that the vetting process itself is a weak link. In most districts, school boards, IT personnel, and administrators select vendors based on the companies’ own data about safety and efficacy. “There is nobody right now that is confirming these products are safe, effective and legal,” she said. “It should not fall on the district’s IT director; it would be impossible for them to do it. And the companies should not be tasked with doing it — that would be like nicotine companies vetting their own cigarettes.”

This gap has spurred legislative action to create independent certification processes.

Three States, Three Approaches to Vetting Reform

At the start of the 2025 legislative session, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont each introduced bills that would require more rigorous review of educational technology. While the details vary, all three aim to reduce reliance on vendor self-reporting and introduce state-level oversight.

Below is a closer look at Vermont’s proposal, which has advanced the furthest.

Vermont: An Act Relating to Educational Technology Products

Vermont’s bill—officially titled An Act Relating to Educational Technology Products—passed the House on March 27 and is currently before the Senate Committee on Education. It establishes a mandatory registration and certification system for all student-facing edtech products used in public schools.

Key provisions include:

• Annual registration with the Secretary of State, including a $100 fee, plus submission of the most recent terms and conditions and privacy policy.
• A certification standard developed by the Secretary of State in collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Education.
• Review criteria that cover:
  • Compliance with state curriculum standards
  • Advantages of using the product over non-digital methods
  • Whether the product was specifically designed for educational purposes
  • Design features such as artificial intelligence, geotracking, and targeted advertising

An earlier version of the bill included fines of $50 per day (up to $10,000) for non-certified products still in use, but that penalty language was removed before the House vote. If the Senate passes the bill, it will then go to the governor for signature.

Proponents say the measure would fill a critical void. Currently, no independent body verifies that edtech tools meet safety and privacy standards. Schools often rely on vendor claims, and IT directors are stretched thin. The Vermont approach creates a centralized review process that could serve as a model for other states.

What This Means for Schools and Edtech Companies

If enacted, Vermont’s legislation would place the burden of proof on edtech providers to demonstrate compliance with state standards before their products enter classrooms. Schools would benefit from a curated list of vetted tools, reducing the risk of data breaches, advertising exploitation, or curriculum misalignment.

For edtech companies, the change means additional administrative work and a potential barrier to market entry. However, advocates argue that the $100 registration fee is modest and that certification will ultimately build trust with educators and families.

Meanwhile, Rhode Island and Utah are still developing their proposals. Rhode Island’s bill focuses on creating a state-level review board, while Utah’s emphasizes transparency in vendor contracts. All three signal a growing demand for accountability in the edtech industry.

A Turning Point for Screen Time Oversight

The backlash against edtech vetting is part of a broader reckoning with digital tools in schools. As screen time concerns expand from personal smartphones to district-issued devices, parents and teachers are demanding more than promises from vendors. State legislatures are responding with concrete mechanisms to ensure that the software used by students is safe, effective, and truly educational.

Whether Vermont’s certification scheme becomes law or not, the conversation has shifted: the days of unchecked edtech adoption may be numbered.