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Big Tech Goes to School: Who Decides How AI Enters the Classroom?

September 16, 2026

“The next major AI battleground is the classroom,” Axios reported this year, as Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic race to make their tools the ones teachers and students reach for. “Whoever wins schools now could shape how Gen Alpha learns, studies and interacts with AI for years to come.”1 The money confirms that framing. A […]

Should Schools Adopt AI Before the Evidence Is In?

September 09, 2026

Artificial intelligence is already in American schools, whether or not schools have decided what to do about it. A Common Sense Media census released in June 2026 found that 86% of children aged 9-17 use or interact with generative AI, with nearly a quarter using it daily, and among young AI users, 85% use it […]

School Cellphone Bans Swept the Country: Did They Work?

August 31, 2026

As summer winds down, Massachusetts lawmakers are working to reconcile State House and Senate bills that would prohibit students from using cellphones and other personal devices from the first school bell to the last, beginning in the 2026-27 school year.¹ If the effort succeeds, Massachusetts will join a movement that has spread with remarkable speed. […]

Who Should Pay for the Electricity That Powers AI?

May 06, 2026

As artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models like ChatGPT become more ubiquitous in American life, “tech giants such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon are predicted to spend $364 billion this year to accelerate the construction of new data centers” across the United States.1 Data centers are facilities that house servers, storage systems, networking […]

Should the Federal Government Influence How Museums Present American History?

April 28, 2026

The administration of President Donald Trump has raised concerns that federally funded institutions, such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), wield the power to either heighten or ease racial tensions through what the administration calls “divisive” and “ideologically driven” narratives. The administration is scrutinizing the portrayal of the nation’s heritage […]

Should Congress Prohibit Federal Funding for the War in Iran?

April 13, 2026

Five weeks into the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, the human and economic toll continues to mount. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed in combat and more than 200 wounded; Iranian authorities report at least 2,076 people killed and more than 26,500 wounded inside Iran since strikes began on February 28, […]

Social Issues

Social Spaces for Kids and Teens

January 22, 2026

Last fall, 41 state attorneys general sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alleging that it “knowingly designed and deployed harmful features … to purposefully addict children and teens.”1 In January, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a public hearing to address online child safety issues.2 And this month, the House of Representatives voted […]

Social Issues

Social Spaces for Kids and Teens

January 22, 2026

The Rise and Impact of Phone Bans in U.S. Public Schools

September 12, 2025

In recent years, cell phones have moved from novelty to necessity in daily life, but in U.S. public schools, they’ve also become a battleground. Facing growing concerns about distraction, mental health, and safety, state legislatures and school boards across the country are implementing bans on student phone use during the school day. Supporters say the […]

Book Bans in Schools and Libraries

June 09, 2025

Book banning—along with other ways of restricting public access to written expression—has been a common and controversial issue throughout the history of the United States. For example, Harper Lee’s novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird,” has been repeatedly banned in schools and public libraries across the country since it was published in 1960. Challenges to the […]

Current Issues Blog

Big Tech Goes to School: Who Decides How AI Enters the Classroom?

Should Schools Adopt AI Before the Evidence Is In?

School Cellphone Bans Swept the Country: Did They Work?

Who Should Pay for the Electricity That Powers AI?

Should the Federal Government Influence How Museums Present American History?

Should Congress Prohibit Federal Funding for the War in Iran?

Social Spaces for Kids and Teens

Social Spaces for Kids and Teens

The Rise and Impact of Phone Bans in U.S. Public Schools

Book Bans in Schools and Libraries