K12 Tech Talk

On episode 275, Josh, Chris, and Mark jump into a back‑to‑school conversation covering AI policy, screen time, cybersecurity, and tech in the classroom. They start by sharing how 98 high school students from all 50 states convened at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute to run a mock Congress and produced a comprehensive AI model bill (and it's good stuff!).

The guys discuss the Enhancing K‑12 Cybersecurity Act, Tennessee’s new screen‑time law, and district strategies for the new school year, from gathering data on actual device minutes to defining "meaningful" versus "time‑suck" screen use.

Finally, Josh does some quick, fun interviews at MidwestTechTalk 2026.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/commonsensemedia_teensaipornographysexualcontent_2026_0.pdf

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/29/department-for-education-police-hackers-cybercrime

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Music by Colt Ball

Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Chris and Mark break down some headline stories and dig into a longer conversation about vibe coding in K12. They discuss Common Sense Media’s poor safety rating of Google Search’s AI mode, continued reporting from databreaches.net about the unresolved Navigate360 anonymous tip database breach, and ClassLink data analyzing device screen time across 5.5 million students.

The main conversation is vibe coding - using large language models (Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) to generate and deploy code. They talk practical use cases and big concerns. Should vibe coding be used in schools for small utilities? Classroom tools? IT automations? They talk about security, data exposure, maintainability, single‑person liabilities, and more.

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Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)

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Email us at [email protected]

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Music by Colt Ball

Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Josh, Chris, and Mark unpack Anthropic’s surprise launch of "Claude for Teachers," a free‑until‑2027 offering that immediately drew criticism from district leaders for its bottom‑up signup model, suggested student data uploads, and potentially misleading FERPA claims.

The guys cover the ripple effects of the Canvas security incident, including Instructure’s paused notifications when a third‑party vendor (Progress Software) posed a new threat, leaving districts awaiting critical breach details. They summarize newly passed AI laws in Idaho, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Virginia as well.

Join us at MidwestTechTalk

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Sponsored by:

Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)

Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!!

Email us at [email protected]

OR our "professional" email addy is [email protected]

X @k12techtalkpod

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Music by Colt Ball

Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Recorded live from the GAMEIS Conference in Savannah, Georgia, this episode brings you interviews and conversations with district leaders and state education technologists. Josh, Chris and Mark hang out with attendees, presenters, sponsors, and some very special guests. Highlights are community-focused sessions, family events, and record attendance.

Special Guests:

* Daniel Pollack, Checkpoint

* Allison Kensey

* Jason Malick and Vicki Decker

* Craig Dinn

* Mark Kuczka and Clint Winter

* Rick Womack

* Keith Osburn, Georgia DoE

* Brian DeRose

* 2 of 3 Wives

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Sponsored by:

Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)

Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!!

Email us at [email protected]

OR our "professional" email addy is [email protected]

X @k12techtalkpod

Facebook

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Music by Colt Ball

Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

On Episode 271, Josh and Mark sit down with Nicole Sanchez and Matt Winters from the Utah State Board of Education’s Data Privacy Team to explain how Utah became a national model for student data protection. The conversation covers the state’s legal framework, long-running infrastructure efforts, and the practical systems Utah uses.

And don't forget to check out Utah's Youtube Channel!

The episode also touches on national policy issues (the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, duty-of-care debates), recent ed-tech moves in states like North Carolina, and highlights from ISTE about Google Classroom and Gemini.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5946180-house-passes-kids-online-safety-package/

https://www.govtech.com/education/k-12/north-carolina-budget-proposes-5m-for-khanmigo-magicschool

Join us July 6th-10th, 2026 – GAMEIS Conference in Savannah, GA

Join us at MidwestTechTalk

————

Sponsored by:

Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)

Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!!

Email us at [email protected]

OR our "professional" email addy is [email protected]

X @k12techtalkpod

Facebook

Visit our LinkedIn

Music by Colt Ball

Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

On this week’s episode of the K‑12 Tech Talk podcast Josh and Mark dig into a packed news round-up and sit down with Joey Wender, Executive Director of the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, to discuss a wide‑ranging FCC notice that could fundamentally change, or even threaten, the E‑Rate program.

Joey walks us through the FCC’s proposed rulemaking, explains why the item raises existential questions about E‑Rate (including whether support should be limited to rural areas), and outlines next steps for districts and librarians: the FCC comment windows, advocacy resources (including SaveOurE‑Rate.com), and SHLB’s upcoming webinar and events. 

The guys discuss the latest K12 tech news, including that PowerSchool announced a July 1 change disabling third‑party plugins unless vendors pass security reviews, sign licensing agreements, and use approved APIs or CSV imports. Josh and Mark explain the operational impact (ClassLink/Clever integrations affected), the potential costs and migration burdens for districts, and community reactions about timing and motives.

Articles Discussed:

Lancaster County Parents File Lawsuit over Deepfakes

LAUSD Approves Screentime Ban

How hackers found their way into your living room (WSJ)

PowerSchool - 3rd Party Plugin FAQ

www.saveourerate.com

Join us July 6th-10th, 2026 – GAMEIS Conference in Savannah, GA

Join us at MidwestTechTalk

————

Sponsored by:

Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)

Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!!

Email us at [email protected]

OR our "professional" email addy is [email protected]

X @k12techtalkpod

Facebook

Visit our LinkedIn

Music by Colt Ball

Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

The guys discuss tornado watches, tacos, and the World Cup‑driven Scots in Boston.

The news includes New York City Public Schools’ AI guidelines and growing push back, an insider cyberattack in Iowa, and breaking cybersecurity news is also addressed - the newly reported FortiBleed leak that exposed credentials for tens of thousands of Fortinet/FortiGate devices. They also review federal education news - a proposed reorganization moving Special Education and OCR functions out of the Department of Education.

Finally, Chris sits down with R.T. Collins, CEO of Incident IQ and they discuss AI, vibe coding, and K12 technology leadership.

Join us July 6th-10th, 2026 – GAMEIS Conference in Savannah, GA

Join us at MidwestTechTalk

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Our new K12-focused platform is now live - Built entirely around serving Missouri schools with greater clarity, speed, and accountability. Here’s what’s new:

✔ A clear, step-by-step buyback process

✔ Defined audit timelines

✔ R2-certified compliance transparency

✔ Creative payout solutions for districts

✔ A stronger partnership approach

We’re not changing who we are. We’re doubling down on doing things right - From the first conversation to the final audit report.

Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)

Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!!

Email us at [email protected]

OR our "professional" email addy is [email protected]

X @k12techtalkpod

Facebook

Visit our LinkedIn

Music by Colt Ball

Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

In episode 268, Josh, Chris, and Mark break down the Federal Communications Commission's newly published proposed rule changes to the E‑Rate program. The conversation explains the scope of the public comment period, where the proposals came from, and what districts, consortia, and vendors should watch for over the coming months.

The guys discuss what services could be removed from E‑Rate eligibility, the FCC's questions about screen time, CIPA filtering expectations, and how the Commission is reexamining the program's original connectivity goals. They also dig into the changes to consultant definitions and fee structures, managed internal broadband services (MIBS), and potential unbundling of hardware vs. service costs, and more.

Carr Opens E-Rate Program Review to Ensure it Meets Congress's Vision 

CoSN Statement

Join us July 6th-10th, 2026 – GAMEIS Conference in Savannah, GA

Join us at MidwestTechTalk

————

Sponsored by:

Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)

Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!!

Email us at [email protected]

OR our "professional" email addy is [email protected]

X @k12techtalkpod

Facebook

Visit our LinkedIn

Music by Colt Ball

Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

On this week’s episode, the guys test whether artificial intelligence can replace a person - with AI‑cloned "Josh" sprinkled through the episode.

Chris and Mark cover the rapid early success of Apple’s new MacBook Neo, including Kansas City Public Schools’ plan to replace roughly 30,000 Windows PCs and Chromebooks after a 4,500‑unit proof of concept.

Elizabethtown Area School District’s cell phone and smartwatch ban (and the community reaction to program names like “Cellcatraz” versus “Device Den”) is discussed. The guys highlight new guidance from the National Council of Teachers of English on using AI in ELA classrooms, centered on a practical stoplight model (red, yellow, green) that helps teachers define AI use. A major segment revisits last week’s episode about showing movies in class. Finally, Chris interviews Chantell Manahan, Director of Technology at MSD of Steuben County, to discuss her district’s experience with SysCloud.

Join us July 6th-10th, 2026 – GAMEIS Conference in Savannah, GA

Join us at MidwestTechTalk

————

Sponsored by:

Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)

Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!!

Email us at [email protected]

OR our "professional" email addy is [email protected]

X @k12techtalkpod

Facebook

Visit our LinkedIn

Music by Colt Ball

Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

Episode 266 of the K12 Tech Talk podcast finds Josh, Chris and Mark diving into the summer school circus, national policy, guidance on watching movies in schools, and screen time. This week’s guest is Amy Bennett, Chief of Staff at Lightspeed Systems, who joins to unpack the screen time debate, data-driven monitoring, and what tech leaders should do next.

The main topic is on MOVIES! "Can I watch that movie in my classroom?" The guys discuss copyright, fair use, and the difference between streaming subscriptions and licensed educational services.

Oh, and Josh loves cookies.

Join us July 6th-10th, 2026 – GAMEIS Conference in Savannah, GA

Join us at MidwestTechTalk

————

Sponsored by:

Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals)

Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!!

Email us at [email protected]

OR our "professional" email addy is [email protected]

X @k12techtalkpod

Facebook

Visit our LinkedIn

Music by Colt Ball

Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.