Resolve, to Study the Use of Technology in Classrooms and Study Safeguards Related to Its Use

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STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX
_____
H.P. 1376 - L.D. 2052
Resolve, to Study the Use of Technology in Classrooms and Study Safeguards
Related to Its Use
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this resolve directs the Maine Education Policy Research Institute to
develop a survey to gather and analyze information from school administrative units,
schools in the unorganized territory and private schools approved for the receipt of public
funds under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 117, subchapter 2 that enroll
60% or more publicly funded students regarding the use of technology in the classroom,
safety policies and procedures in place and the means employed to ensure compliance with
those policies and procedures and to gather information on current guidance about best
practices for safe instructional technology use for children from state and national experts;
and
Whereas, the survey and analysis must be initiated before the 90-day period expires
in order that the work may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to
the next legislative session; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
therefore, be it
Sec. 1. Maine Education Policy Research Institute study. Resolved: That
the Maine Education Policy Research Institute shall develop a survey as described under
section 2 to gather and analyze information from school administrative units, schools in the
unorganized territory and private schools approved for the receipt of public funds under the
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 117, subchapter 2 that enroll 60% or more
publicly funded students regarding the use of technology in the classroom, safety policies
and procedures in place and the means employed to ensure compliance with those policies
and procedures. In developing the survey, the Maine Education Policy Research Institute
may consult with the Department of Education, the Maine School Management
Association, the Maine Principals' Association, the Maine Education Association, the
APPROVED
APRIL 3, 2026
BY GOVERNOR
CHAPTER
149
RESOLVES
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Association of Computer Technology Educators of Maine and other stakeholders as
appropriate.
Sec. 2. Survey requirements. Resolved: That the Maine Education Policy
Research Institute shall survey educators from all 16 counties in the State on the use of
technology in the classroom. The survey parameters must include, but are not limited to,
the following:
1. The amount of average instruction time per grade level spent on school-issued
technology devices;
2. The safeguards undertaken before introducing new school-issued technology
products, such as enabling screen time settings, blocking access to social media
applications and websites and configuring default privacy settings to the highest level;
3. The policies regarding allowed use or prohibition of gamification, leader boards,
push notification alerts, advertising, geolocation, generative and conversational artificial
intelligence, use of free online tools and use of unlicensed educational websites or online
tools that are not certified as safe for schools under the federal Children's Online Privacy
Protection Act of 1998;
4. The compliance measures to ensure that school policies under subsection 3 are
followed;
5. The timeline for school review of education technology products;
6. Adherence to the provisions of the Student Information Privacy Act;
7. The policies in place for prohibiting artificial intelligence use in grading, teacher
evaluations and any other education or administrative areas;
8. Known instances of students bypassing Internet restrictions on school-issued
technology devices; and
9. Suggestions for state policies and guidance to assist and support local action and
policy development regarding the use of technology in schools.
Sec. 3. Guidance. Resolved: That the Maine Education Policy Research Institute
shall gather information on current guidance about best practices for safe instructional
technology use for children from state and national experts. The guidance must include,
but is not limited to, a review of neuropsychological and developmental studies,
comparative academic performance data and behavioral and environmental observations
that provide insight on the impact of digital consumption on cognitive development. The
institute shall share this guidance with its steering committee to facilitate distribution to its
stakeholders.
Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That, by December 1, 2026, the Maine Education Policy
Research Institute shall submit a report based on the survey and research under sections 1
to 3, including recommendations to the Department of Education and suggested legislation,
to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and
cultural affairs. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over
education and cultural affairs is authorized to submit legislation related to the report to the
133rd Legislature in 2027.
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Sec. 5. Funding. Resolved: That funding for the requirements of this resolve must
be incorporated into the Maine Education Policy Research Institute's fiscal year 2026-27
cooperative project agreement with the Legislature.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
takes effect when approved.