TOPEKA — Technology should only be utilized to enhance teaching and in support of effective instructional practices and meaningful human interaction. That's the guiding principle behind a policy approved this week by the Kansas State Board of Education to establish minimum requirements for technology use in Kansas schools.
The policy reflects the State Board's belief that technology can be a valuable instructional tool when used intentionally to strengthen student learning. It emphasizes the importance of meaningful interactions between teachers and students and ensuring that decisions about technology use are driven by instructional value and student needs.
“The State Board has sent a clear message that technology only belongs in the classroom when it strengthens teaching and learning,” said Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Jake Steel. “This policy establishes expectations for every Kansas school while recognizing that decisions about how to meet those expectations are best made by the people closest to students. Local school boards have both the authority and the responsibility to work with their communities to ensure technology is used in ways that support high-quality instruction.”
Developed following months of input from educators, parents and other education partners, the policy establishes statewide expectations for the intentional use of instructional technology while giving local school boards the responsibility to determine how best to meet those expectations. Those decisions must consider not only academic learning but also students' social, emotional and physical well-being.
To meet the minimum requirements of the State Board-approved policy, districts and nonpublic accredited schools must address the following areas in their instructional technology policies by July 1, 2027:
- Purpose and intended use of technology in elementary and secondary education settings
- Student technology access and use
- Digital citizenship and student well-being
- Artificial intelligence
- Privacy and security
State Board members approved a resolution and board directive No. 2026-1 to implement the policy.
The directive also requires districts and accredited nonpublic schools to establish a process for parents to acknowledge their school's instructional technology policy by the beginning of the 2028-29 school year.
The State Board-approved policy is set to sunset on July 1, 2030, if no action is taken prior to that date.