The FCC is reviewing E-Rate, the program that discounts school internet
Every tool in Section 01 depends on a working internet connection. A federal program called E-Rate helps schools and libraries pay for that connection, and it is now under review. Here is what is confirmed so far.
- What E-Rate does: it discounts internet access and internal school networks by 20% to 90%, with the biggest discounts going to the most disadvantaged schools and libraries. More than 100,000 schools and 11,000 libraries rely on it.
- How big it is: in funding year 2025, applicants requested about $3.2 billion ($1.806 billion for connections to schools and $1.418 billion for networks inside them). It is run by the FCC and paid for by fees on telecom companies, not by the Department of Education.
- What the FCC is doing: in June 2026 it opened a review of whether the program should be narrowed or reoriented. It is taking public comments until October 13. Questions on the table include changing the discount system, limiting support to rural areas or areas served by a single provider, and whether screen-time concerns should be addressed. Eliminating the subsidies entirely was among the possibilities raised.
- Stated goal: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has said the review is aimed at empowering parents and ensuring the program produces good educational outcomes.
The program's original goal, getting classrooms online, has largely been met: only 14 percent of K-12 classrooms had internet access when Congress created it in 1996. They also want more parental say over screen time.
Schools could face steep price increases, and large urban districts would be hit hardest. School leaders also note that internet access now reaches well beyond classroom instruction.
Nothing has been decided. The FCC has some authority to change how E-Rate is administered without Congress, but whether it can eliminate a program Congress authorized is an unsettled legal question.
Tools you'll likely encounter
Nationally representative research from 2025 found that a majority of middle and high schoolers already report using AI for schoolwork, and just over half of ELA, math, and science teachers report using AI in instructional tasks. Here's what's actually behind those numbers.
OpenAI's dedicated teacher workspace, separate from the consumer app, built to keep classroom materials and student information out of model training — a distinction many districts require before approving any AI use for staff.
An all-in-one toolbox of over 80 teacher tools — lesson drafting, IEP goal generation, report-card comments, rubric creation. Students generally don't interact with it directly; teachers use it to prepare materials.
A tutoring assistant focused on math and science, built with student data protections in mind. Unlike general-purpose tools, it's designed specifically for guided instruction rather than open-ended conversation.
Several large districts — including Albuquerque, Wichita, and Fulton County (GA) — have rolled these out for differentiated instruction and IEP support, often after a formal vendor security review rather than an open rollout.
Lower-stakes tools used for slides, posters, and turning existing lesson material into new formats. Free for K-12 use in most cases.
Questions worth asking your child's school
You don't need to be an AI expert to ask good questions. These get at what actually matters: data, oversight, and choice.
Where policy stands right now
As of mid-2026, there is no single national approach. Some states have passed binding laws, others have issued guidance without a statute, and many bills are still moving.
| State | What's happening | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Districts required to adopt a formal AI-use policy as of July 1, 2026. | ENACTED |
| Utah | 2026 law phases in state model policies, training, and required parent communication through 2027. | ENACTED |
| Oklahoma | "Responsible Technology in Schools Act" requires a written district policy, annual parent disclosure, and creates a parent opt-out from student-facing AI tools. | ENACTED |
| New York | The RAISE Act, enacted in late 2025, addresses AI use touching K-12 students. | ENACTED |
| California | AB 2876 mandates AI literacy in K-12 curricula; SB 1288 requires statewide guidance and model policies. | ENACTED |
| Virginia | H.B. 1186 establishes a pilot program and requires districts to adopt guidance-aligned policies. | ENACTED |
| South Carolina | H.B. 5253 would require written parental opt-in consent before any AI instructional use, plus annual public disclosure of tools and data practices. | PROPOSED |
| Florida | Proposed "AI Bill of Rights" extension would add parental notice requirements and restrict AI access before grade 6. | PROPOSED |
Glossary
- AI literacy
- Understanding what AI tools can and can't do — increasingly being added directly into state curriculum standards, not just left to individual teachers.
- Opt-in vs. opt-out
- Opt-in means a school needs your explicit permission before using AI with your child. Opt-out means AI use is the default unless you ask to remove your child from it. This distinction is the center of most current legislative fights.
- Data minimization
- A policy principle limiting how much student data a system collects and how long it's kept — a common requirement in newer state proposals.
- High-stakes decision
- Any AI-assisted outcome with real consequences for a student — a final grade, a disciplinary action, a placement decision. Most current legislation focuses oversight here first.