Edtech Software Faces New Scrutiny as States Propose Mandatory Vetting Laws

States Move to Rein in Edtech Software Amid Screen Time Uprising

Three states—Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont—have introduced bills this legislative session to overhaul how educational technology products are vetted before reaching classrooms. The proposals emerge as a growing parent-teacher backlash against screen time expands from personal devices to school-issued laptops and software.

“A lot of the issues with personal devices can move to the district-issued devices,” said Kim Whitman, co-lead for Smartphone Free Childhood US, in a previous interview with EdSurge. “When students do not have cellphones, they can still message with friends on their Chromebooks, or through tools like Google Docs. There are definitely issues with school-issued devices as well.”

Background: From Phone Bans to Software Scrutiny

For years, parent and teacher advocacy groups fought to keep cellphones out of classrooms, arguing they distract and harm mental health. But district-issued Chromebooks and the software they run often escaped similar criticism. Now, critics say the same risks—social messaging, data privacy violations, and educational efficacy—apply to school-sanctioned tools.

Currently, most school districts rely on vendors’ own data to prove safety and effectiveness. “There is nobody right now that is confirming these products are safe, effective and legal,” Whitman 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.”

Vermont’s Bill Leads the Charge

The most advanced proposal comes from Vermont. H.123, titled “An act relating to educational technology products,” passed the House on March 27 and now awaits Senate action. It would require every provider of student-facing edtech software to register annually with the secretary of state and pay a $100 fee, submitting up-to-date terms, conditions, and privacy policies.

The secretary of state, in coordination with the Vermont Agency of Education, would then review each product against a set of criteria. These include compliance with state curriculum standards, advantages over non-digital methods, whether the software was explicitly designed for education, and its use of artificial intelligence, geotracking, or targeted advertising.

Early versions of the bill penalty sections that fined non-certified providers $50 per day up to $10,000. Those penalty provisions were stripped in the House-passed version. If the Senate approves, the law would take effect later this year.

Utah and Rhode Island Follow Suit

Utah’s proposal remains in committee, requiring similar registration and certification but leaving the review process to the state board of education. Rhode Island’s legislation, also pending, focuses on digital privacy and mandates that edtech contracts disclose data collection and sharing practices. Both states have held hearings drawing strong public testimony.

What This Means

If enacted, these laws would fundamentally restructure how edtech software enters US classrooms. Instead of self-certification by vendors, states would impose third-party review, forcing companies to prove educational value and data safety upfront. Districts would lose the flexibility to choose unvetted tools, potentially slowing adoption.

“This is a watershed moment,” said Whitman. “For the first time, states are saying that the $10 billion edtech industry can’t police itself.” The backlash signals that screen time concerns are no longer limited to personal devices—school-issued technology is now in the crosshairs.

For parents, the changes promise greater accountability. For edtech companies, they mark the end of an era of minimal oversight. And for students, the result could be fewer distractions, better learning tools, and stronger privacy protections.