🛝 Tech Access Doesn't Equal Better Learning, 2K Schools Beat Reading Odds, Special Ed AI Use Surges

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

This week's reality check: Schools finally closed the device gap, but it hasn't improved learning outcomes. Meanwhile, over 2,000 schools are defying expectations in reading, and special education teachers are rapidly adopting AI despite significant legal risks.

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💎 Data Gem

A single ransomware attack in South Carolina exposed personal information for 31,000+ students, parents, and staff in just one district. The June breach underscores the scale of K-12 cybersecurity vulnerabilities and the legal liability that districts face when protection fails.

Schools Closed the Device Gap. The Learning Gap Remains.

State and district leaders have made significant progress getting devices and internet access into students' hands.

But according to a new report from the State Educational Technology Directors Association and partner organizations, these gains "haven't led to meaningful improvements in teaching and learning."

The problem is what researchers call the "digital use divide." 

Some students use technology actively in learning, while others just passively complete assignments. The difference comes down to teacher training - or lack of it.

Over 60% of Title II, Part A funds went to professional development in 2022-23, but most went toward short-term workshops rather than sustained support. 

Only 9 states used these funds for technology training. And less than 40% of districts invested in tech-related professional development.

The report's recommendations center on matching device investments with sustained professional learning, ensuring instructional technology leaders have input on funding decisions, and creating unified definitions of effective tech-integrated instruction.

What this means for innovators: districts have the hardware but lack sustainable implementation support. The market gap is in professional development platforms that go beyond one-off tool training and connect directly to instructional goals - especially as AI adoption accelerates without clear guidance.

These 2,158 Schools Are Beating the Odds in Reading

The 74 just released an analysis of 41,883 schools across 10,414 districts nationwide, identifying 2,158 schools where third-grade reading scores far exceed what their poverty rates would predict.

The findings found some really interesting patterns. 

Charter schools are overrepresented - making up 7% of all schools in the sample but 11% of exceptional performers. In New York, many of the highest-poverty, highest-performing schools are charters, led by Success Academy and Bronx schools.

But the relationship between poverty and reading outcomes varies dramatically by state. 

In Maryland, Georgia, Connecticut, and Colorado, poverty is a strong predictor of reading performance. In Kentucky, Nevada, West Virginia, and New York, the correlation is much weaker.

The analysis used free and reduced-price lunch data to measure poverty levels and focused on third-grade proficiency because research shows these scores "provide a strong indication of the path a student is on."

The wide variation in how poverty impacts reading outcomes suggests that instructional approaches matter significantly. The schools beating the odds are proving something works - but the data doesn't yet explain what. 

There's opportunity for research tools and platforms that can identify and scale the practices making these schools successful, particularly in high-poverty environments where outcomes typically lag.

Special Education Teachers Embrace AI Despite Legal Risks

Nearly 60% of special education teachers used AI to develop IEPs or Section 504 plans during 2024-25 - an 18-percentage-point jump from the previous year, according to new research from the Center for Democracy and Technology.

Parents and students largely support this. 

About 64% of parents with IEP or 504 students and 63% of students with these plans think AI use is a good idea.

The appeal is obvious - teachers using AI weekly save up to six weeks per school year. For special educators facing severe shortages and burnout, that's significant.

But the Center for Democracy and Technology warns of serious risks. 

IDEA requires each IEP to be unique and tailored to individual students' disabilities and goals. AI tools that generate IEPs based on limited student-specific information likely violate these requirements if not thoroughly reviewed and edited.

Privacy is another concern. Any student information entered into a chatbot can be collected and stored by the company. The risks vary depending on whether schools have formal agreements with vendors offering purpose-built tools versus teachers using general chatbots.

About a third of special educators used AI for specific tasks like identifying progress trends, summarizing IEP content, and selecting accommodations. 

Fewer used AI to write narrative portions (21%) or fully write plans (15%).

CDT recommends that districts provide clear guidance on responsible AI use in IEP development, establish teacher communities of practice for sharing best practices, and communicate with parents about how AI is incorporated into the process.

There's clear demand for AI tools that save special educators time, but current solutions create legal and privacy exposure. The opportunity is in building purpose-built IEP tools that maintain IDEA compliance, have proper data privacy protections, and include human review workflows. Districts need solutions that deliver efficiency without increasing liability.

⚡️More Quick Hits

This week in education:

• AI tools lack pedagogical depth  -  Opinion argues AI-generated materials miss multicultural nuance and critical-thinking prompts, highlighting gaps in current tools

• Congressional AI regulation proposals  -  Two federal proposals aim to regulate youth AI use around privacy and safety, with implications for edtech product design

• Ohio families choose public schools  -  District leader explains why families stay despite expansive vouchers and charters, citing services and community ties

• Summer school planning timeline  -  Advocates argue states should commit to 2026 summer learning now to secure staffing, curriculum, and transportation

📚 Weekend Reads

Monthly roundup of resources you might like:

• Academic Recovery Still Elusive — Data showing students need 4.8 additional months in reading and 4.3 months in math to reach pre-pandemic levels.

• Current Term Enrollment Estimates — Spring 2025 undergraduate enrollment up 3.5% to 15.3 million students, with community colleges leading the resurgence at 5.4% growth

• Educator Pay Rankings 2024-25 — State-by-state analysis showing average teacher salary reached $74,177, yet inflation has teachers earning 5% less than a decade ago

• Public Confidence in Schools — Record-low public approval with only 13% giving schools an A or B grade, and 59% of parents preferring private school options with public funds

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