🛝 States Ditch Annual Testing, Florida Drops Vaccine Mandates, AI Policies Missing

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

This week's reality check: States scramble to escape federal testing requirements and public health mandates. Most still haven't figured out basic AI policies for classrooms. The regulatory landscape is shifting faster than schools can adapt.

💎 Data Gem

Only 9% of lower- and upper-secondary teachers across OECD countries are under age 30 (13% in primary, 17% in pre-primary), according to OECD's Education at a Glance 2025.

States Push to Abandon Annual Testing Model

Oklahoma and Texas are leading a potential revolution in state testing that could upend two decades of No Child Left Behind-era requirements.

Oklahoma is requesting federal waivers to eliminate end-of-year standardized tests entirely, replacing them with district-chosen assessments that don't need federal approval. 

State Superintendent Ryan Walters calls the current system "restrictive, outdated, and effectively monopolistic."

Texas is taking a different route by moving to through-year testing with three assessments per year. This allows districts to pick the first two tests while the state develops a final assessment for federal compliance.

The difference matters. 

Oklahoma's approach could eliminate reliable, uniform data across schools, while Texas is trying to maintain federal standards while providing more timely feedback.

Montana already uses through-year testing successfully, but went through extensive federal review and refinement. 

If the Trump administration approves Oklahoma's broader waiver without requiring similar rigor, other states will likely follow.

The testing shake-up creates opportunities for assessment platforms that can provide flexible, district-customizable testing. But it also signals potential demand for accountability tools that work without federal oversight.

Florida Eliminates All Vaccine Mandates for Schools

Florida just announced plans to end all state vaccine mandates, including requirements for students to attend school.

Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said his agency would roll back mandates for half-dozen vaccines under state authority, while working with the Republican legislature on broader reforms. 

Governor Ron DeSantis framed the move as protecting "medical freedom."

The implications are serious. 

About 5.1% of Florida kindergartners were already exempted from vaccines - roughly 11,287 children. 

Infectious disease experts warn the policy could trigger outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, and polio.

But there's a business angle beyond public health concerns. Florida is a major tourist destination with millions of visitors annually. Disease outbreaks could impact everything from theme parks to conference centers to hotels.

The policy also creates compliance complexity for childcare centers, private schools, and other facilities that currently require vaccinations.

Florida's move suggests growing market demand for health monitoring and outbreak tracking systems, especially in states that are loosening vaccination requirements. Companies building solutions for schools in policy-shifting environments need to plan for rapid regulatory changes.

AI Policies Remain Missing Despite Widespread Classroom Use

Students and teachers are already using AI in Maryland schools, but the state still hasn't developed statewide guidelines after more than a year of behind-the-scenes work.

The challenge isn't technical, it's the pace of change. 

"The AI space is developing really, really fast. All the AI tools are developed at lightning speed," said Jing Liu, associate professor at University of Maryland, College Park.

Some districts aren't waiting. 

Prince George's County launched a three-year AI implementation plan focusing on professional learning and ethical considerations. Calvert County added AI guidelines to their student code of conduct, warning that misuse could involve law enforcement.

Teachers are improvising their own approaches. 

A social studies teacher had students compare political ads and create their own, allowing AI for research and script suggestions but requiring students to make strategic decisions themselves.

State Superintendent Carey Wright says statewide guidance could come by year's end, but acknowledges the complexity: "We don't want just a hodgepodge of things being taught."

The policy gap represents opportunity for companies that can provide interim solutions—AI policy frameworks, teacher training modules, and ethical use guidelines that districts can implement while waiting for state direction.

⚡️ More quick hits

This week in education:

 Toilet training challenges in California — TK expansion brings more 4-year-olds who aren't fully potty-trained, straining staffing and facilities

States resist DEI defunding threats — Half of states say they won't follow Trump administration's threat to withhold funds from schools maintaining DEI activities

Skeptical optimism on AI urged — EdWeek essay argues for embracing AI benefits while managing risks through practical classroom frameworks

Head Start funding concerns — Despite likely $85M budget increase, program leaders warn funding won't cover growing needs

🔎 Worth Checking Out

Monthly roundup of resources you might like:

• NCES District Revenue and Expenditure Data 2022-23 — Fresh national and state-level tables on district finances for FY2023, providing essential baseline data for market sizing and pricing strategies

• UK GenAI Literacy Study 2025 — Survey of 60k+ teens and 2,908 teachers shows 66.5% of students and 58% of teachers using AI, with strong calls for training on critical use

• 2025 PDK Poll Results — 57th annual survey shows strong public support for improving teacher pay, addressing shortages, limiting cell phone use, and majority opposition to eliminating the Education Department

• EdChoice August 2025 Polling — Half of Americans say K-12 is on wrong track, ~25% of parents report school switching, mixed views on eliminating Education Department

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