The False Promise of Ed Tech: The Rebrand

Send us Fan Mail If the evidence against ed tech is this damning, why hasn’t the industry backed off? In Part 2, Alyse follows the money, and the lawsuits, to find out. She breaks down the business model behind “personalized learning,” two real, finalized legal cases involving the FTC and Chicago Public Schools, and the spring 2026 Canvas data breach that touched schools nationwide. She names the four-move “rebrand playbook” the industry uses every time pushback builds, and exposes how pay-to-play certification seals let companies grade their own homework. This one gets personal, too: Alyse shares why student data privacy isn’t abstract for her as a parent. Then she hands teachers concrete, no-nonsense tools for pushing back: what questions to ask before adopting new ed tech, and why skepticism isn’t the same thing as being anti-technology. Resources & Research Mentioned U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation, “Plugged Out: Examining the Impact of Technology on America’s Youth,” January 15, 2026 — congress.gov committee hearing record FTC settlement with Illuminate Education (finalized June 2026) Chicago Public Schools settlement over a college/career readiness platform ($17 million, early 2026) Instructure/Canvas data breach (spring 2026), leading to the permanent shutdown of Canvas’s Free-for-Teacher program “Is the Backlash Against Tech in Schools Going Too Far?” by Lina Eroh, Education Week (referenced as last episode’s rebuttal) About Alyse Alyse is a veteran high school science teacher in Pennsylvania, curriculum writer, and former cancer researcher. She's the founder of Keystone Science, which provides NGSS-aligned, inquiry-based science resources for secondary science teachers. Alyse strongly believes every student deserves a real science education, regardless of background, language, or ability, not a watered-down version of one. In addition to her teaching load, she currently serves on the PA Science Leadership Collaborative, a state-level committee that provides insights into the implementation of the PA STEELS standards. Comments and analysis in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the position or views of the PA Department of Education. Outside the classroom, she's outside: hiking, kayaking, running, creek walking, bee & birdwatching in her backyard, or elbow-deep in the garden. She's a self-certified tree hugger who has never met a tree she didn't want to save. Most days, though, she's the full-time chauffeur to two very busy kids. 🌐 Keystone Science Website 📧 Sign Up for the Keystone Science Email List