K12 Tech Talk

Hosted by k12techtalk

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Episodes

200

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

A K12TechPro Podcast. This podcast is about trending K12 technology topics and issues. Josh, Chris, and Mark have real conversations, real arguments, and real banter on IT issues and trends in K12 Schools. Current and Past Sponsors: Absolute, Arista, HPE Aruba Networking, Blocksi, Chromebookparts.com, ClassLink, CTL, Eaton, Extreme Networks, Fortinet, Howard Technology Solutions, iDoc, IncidentIQ, Infoblox, INVZBL, Jupiter Education, Lightspeed Systems, Luma Technologies, Managed Methods, Meter, NTP, Papercut, Provision Data Solutions, Pondurance, PowerGistics, Prey, Rise Vision, Ruckus/Commscope, SaferWatch, Scale Computing, SHI, StatusGator, SomethingCool.com, Tripp Lite, Verkada, VIZOR ™ K12 Tech Talk

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60 recent

August 14, 2026Episode 27847 min

Episode 277 - KOSA vs. KIDS Act Explained

Episode 277 examines the mounting policy fight over student safety online and the practical tech issues districts are facing as a new school year begins. Josh and Chris open with personal stories about moving kids to college and summer realities. We break down two competing federal proposals: the Senate’s KOSA approach that leans on a "duty of care" - potentially holding platforms liable for harms - and the House’s KIDS Act that prescribes specific rules (and largely shields platforms from direct liability). The conversation explains the core differences, how each bill would affect targeted advertising and COPPA, First Amendment and privacy concerns, likely outcomes during the lame‑duck session, and how platforms might respond. Links referenced: From Screen Time Mandates to Purposeful Technology Policies and Guidance (CoSN) CISA K-12 Cybersecurity Getting Started CISA K-12 Cybersecurity Implementation ———— Sponsored by: Meter VIZOR Fortinet Howard Chromebookparts.com - Contact customersupport@chromebookparts.com with the code: WELCOME TO CHROME IMPROVEMENT for an additional 10% percent off your next order! Incident IQ ———— Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

August 7, 2026Episode 27744 min

Episode 276 - RFPs and New Gemini

Josh, Chris, and Mark talk about a New Mexico state-mandated AI reading tool stirring privacy concerns, Google rolling out a student-facing Gemini tab in Classroom by default, new survey findings about post-RFP vendor behavior, and the growing trend of "vibe coding" inside districts. Oh, and how to handle teacher/classroom movements and changes. ———— Sponsored by: Meter VIZOR Fortinet Howard ManagedMethods Lightspeed NTP ———— Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

July 31, 2026Episode 27646 min

Episode 275 - What happens when students create an AI bill?

On episode 275, Josh, Chris, and Mark jump into a back‑to‑school conversation covering AI policy, screen time, cybersecurity, and tech in the classroom. They start by sharing how 98 high school students from all 50 states convened at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute to run a mock Congress and produced a comprehensive AI model bill (and it's good stuff!). The guys discuss the Enhancing K‑12 Cybersecurity Act, Tennessee’s new screen‑time law, and district strategies for the new school year, from gathering data on actual device minutes to defining "meaningful" versus "time‑suck" screen use. Finally, Josh does some quick, fun interviews at MidwestTechTalk 2026 . Articles Discussed: https://www.npr.org/2026/07/30/nx-s1-5853571/students-set-ai-policy https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/commonsensemedia_teensaipornographysexualcontent_2026_0.pdf https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/29/department-for-education-police-hackers-cybercrime ———— Sponsored by: Meter VIZOR Fortinet Howard ClassLink Lightspeed ———— Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

July 24, 2026Episode 27545 min

Episode 274 - Vibe Coding without Josh

Chris and Mark break down some headline stories and dig into a longer conversation about vibe coding in K12. They discuss Common Sense Media’s poor safety rating of Google Search’s AI mode, continued reporting from databreaches.net about the unresolved Navigate360 anonymous tip database breach, and ClassLink data analyzing device screen time across 5.5 million students. The main conversation is vibe coding - using large language models (Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) to generate and deploy code. They talk practical use cases and big concerns. Should vibe coding be used in schools for small utilities? Classroom tools? IT automations? They talk about security, data exposure, maintainability, single‑person liabilities, and more. ———— Sponsored by: Meter NTP VIZOR Fortinet Managed Methods Howard Incident IQ ———— Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

July 17, 2026Episode 27435 min

Episode 273 - Block Claude?!?! Why Districts Are Pushing Back on Claude for Teachers

Josh, Chris, and Mark unpack Anthropic’s surprise launch of "Claude for Teachers," a free‑until‑2027 offering that immediately drew criticism from district leaders for its bottom‑up signup model, suggested student data uploads, and potentially misleading FERPA claims. The guys cover the ripple effects of the Canvas security incident, including Instructure’s paused notifications when a third‑party vendor (Progress Software) posed a new threat, leaving districts awaiting critical breach details. They summarize newly passed AI laws in Idaho, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Virginia as well. Join us at MidwestTechTalk ———— Sponsored by: Meter CyberNut Fortinet Extreme Networks ClassLink Incident IQ ———— Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

July 14, 2026Episode 2731 hr 0 min

Live from GAMEIS 2026!

Recorded live from the GAMEIS Conference in Savannah, Georgia, this episode brings you interviews and conversations with district leaders and state education technologists. Josh, Chris and Mark hang out with attendees, presenters, sponsors, and some very special guests. Highlights are community-focused sessions, family events, and record attendance. Special Guests: * Daniel Pollack, Checkpoint * Allison Kensey * Jason Malick and Vicki Decker * Craig Dinn * Mark Kuczka and Clint Winter * Rick Womack * Keith Osburn, Georgia DoE * Brian DeRose * 2 of 3 Wives ———— Sponsored by: Meter CyberNut CDWG Fortinet Managed Methods NTP CDWG - K12 Solutions & Services Overview Video: https://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/content/CDW/cdw/on-domain-cdw/videos/ssi/k12/mkt94999-k12-ssi-video-full-with-captions.mp4 CDWG - Strengthening K12 Cybersecurity: https://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/content/CDW/cdw/on-domain-cdw/videos/ssi/k12-cybersecurity/mkt94971-k12-cybersecurity-ssi-full-video-with-captions.mp4 ———— Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

July 3, 2026Episode 27248 min

Episode 271 - Utah’s Blueprint for School Data Protection

On Episode 271, Josh and Mark sit down with Nicole Sanchez and Matt Winters from the Utah State Board of Education’s Data Privacy Team to explain how Utah became a national model for student data protection. The conversation covers the state’s legal framework, long-running infrastructure efforts, and the practical systems Utah uses. Learn more at schools.utah.gov/studentdataprivacy/index And don't forget to check out Utah's Youtube Channel! The episode also touches on national policy issues (the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, duty-of-care debates), recent ed-tech moves in states like North Carolina, and highlights from ISTE about Google Classroom and Gemini. Articles Referenced: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5946180-house-passes-kids-online-safety-package/ https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/kids-internet-and-digital-safety-act-passes-house-free-speech-concerns-rcna352341 https://www.govtech.com/education/k-12/north-carolina-budget-proposes-5m-for-khanmigo-magicschool https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/education/iste-2026-educator-updates/ Join us July 6th-10th, 2026 – GAMEIS Conference in Savannah, GA Join us at MidwestTechTalk ———— Sponsored by: Meter CyberNut CDWG Fortinet RTI CDWG - K12 Solutions & Services Overview Video: https://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/content/CDW/cdw/on-domain-cdw/videos/ssi/k12/mkt94999-k12-ssi-video-full-with-captions.mp4 CDWG - Strengthening K12 Cybersecurity: https://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/content/CDW/cdw/on-domain-cdw/videos/ssi/k12-cybersecurity/mkt94971-k12-cybersecurity-ssi-full-video-with-captions.mp4 ———— Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

June 26, 2026Episode 27154 min

Episode 270 - E‑Rate Under Fire: FCC Proposal Could Reshape School Internet Funding

On this week’s episode of the K‑12 Tech Talk podcast Josh and Mark dig into a packed news round-up and sit down with Joey Wender, Executive Director of the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, to discuss a wide‑ranging FCC notice that could fundamentally change, or even threaten, the E‑Rate program. Joey walks us through the FCC’s proposed rulemaking, explains why the item raises existential questions about E‑Rate (including whether support should be limited to rural areas), and outlines next steps for districts and librarians: the FCC comment windows, advocacy resources (including SaveOurE‑Rate.com), and SHLB’s upcoming webinar and events. The guys discuss the latest K12 tech news, including that PowerSchool announced a July 1 change disabling third‑party plugins unless vendors pass security reviews, sign licensing agreements, and use approved APIs or CSV imports. Josh and Mark explain the operational impact (ClassLink/Clever integrations affected), the potential costs and migration burdens for districts, and community reactions about timing and motives. Articles Discussed: Lancaster County Parents File Lawsuit over Deepfakes LAUSD Approves Screentime Ban How hackers found their way into your living room (WSJ) PowerSchool - 3rd Party Plugin FAQ www.saveourerate.com Join us July 6th-10th, 2026 – GAMEIS Conference in Savannah, GA Join us at MidwestTechTalk ———— Sponsored by: Meter CyberNut CDWG Fortinet Managed Methods Incident IQ VIZOR CDWG - K12 Solutions & Services Overview Video: https://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/content/CDW/cdw/on-domain-cdw/videos/ssi/k12/mkt94999-k12-ssi-video-full-with-captions.mp4 CDWG - Strengthening K12 Cybersecurity: https://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/content/CDW/cdw/on-domain-cdw/videos/ssi/k12-cybersecurity/mkt94971-k12-cybersecurity-ssi-full-video-with-captions.mp4 ———— Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

June 19, 2026Episode 2701 hr 3 min

Episode 269 - World Cup Scots in Boston and Incident IQ Hot Seat

The guys discuss tornado watches, tacos, and the World Cup‑driven Scots in Boston. The news includes New York City Public Schools’ AI guidelines and growing push back, an insider cyberattack in Iowa, and breaking cybersecurity news is also addressed - the newly reported FortiBleed leak that exposed credentials for tens of thousands of Fortinet/FortiGate devices. They also review federal education news - a proposed reorganization moving Special Education and OCR functions out of the Department of Education. Finally, Chris sits down with R.T. Collins, CEO of Incident IQ and they discuss AI, vibe coding, and K12 technology leadership. Join us July 6th-10th, 2026 – GAMEIS Conference in Savannah, GA Join us at MidwestTechTalk ———— Sponsored by: Meter CyberNut CDWG Fortinet Lightspeed NTP VIZOR Total Technology : Our new K12-focused platform is now live - Built entirely around serving Missouri schools with greater clarity, speed, and accountability. Here’s what’s new: ✔ A clear, step-by-step buyback process ✔ Defined audit timelines ✔ R2-certified compliance transparency ✔ Creative payout solutions for districts ✔ A stronger partnership approach We’re not changing who we are. We’re doubling down on doing things right - From the first conversation to the final audit report. CDWG - K12 Solutions & Services Overview Video: https://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/content/CDW/cdw/on-domain-cdw/videos/ssi/k12/mkt94999-k12-ssi-video-full-with-captions.mp4 CDWG - Strengthening K12 Cybersecurity: https://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/content/CDW/cdw/on-domain-cdw/videos/ssi/k12-cybersecurity/mkt94971-k12-cybersecurity-ssi-full-video-with-captions.mp4 ———— Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

June 12, 2026Episode 26953 min

Episode 268 - E‑Rate Under Scrutiny: FCC's Proposed Rule Changes Explained

In episode 268, Josh, Chris, and Mark break down the Federal Communications Commission's newly published proposed rule changes to the E‑Rate program. The conversation explains the scope of the public comment period, where the proposals came from, and what districts, consortia, and vendors should watch for over the coming months. The guys discuss what services could be removed from E‑Rate eligibility, the FCC's questions about screen time, CIPA filtering expectations, and how the Commission is reexamining the program's original connectivity goals. They also dig into the changes to consultant definitions and fee structures, managed internal broadband services (MIBS), and potential unbundling of hardware vs. service costs, and more. Carr Opens E-Rate Program Review to Ensure it Meets Congress's Vision CoSN Statement Join us July 6th-10th, 2026 – GAMEIS Conference in Savannah, GA Join us at MidwestTechTalk ———— Sponsored by: Meter CyberNut CDWG Fortinet ClassLink NTP Extreme Networks Lightspeed Systems SMC Electric SMC Electric Testimony CDWG - K12 Solutions & Services Overview Video: https://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/content/CDW/cdw/on-domain-cdw/videos/ssi/k12/mkt94999-k12-ssi-video-full-with-captions.mp4 CDWG - Strengthening K12 Cybersecurity: https://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/content/CDW/cdw/on-domain-cdw/videos/ssi/k12-cybersecurity/mkt94971-k12-cybersecurity-ssi-full-video-with-captions.mp4 ———— Join the K12TechPro Community (exclusively for K12 Tech professionals) Buy some swag (tech dept gift boxes, shirts, hoodies...)!!! Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com OR our "professional" email addy is info@k12techtalkpodcast.com X @k12techtalkpod Facebook Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Disclaimer: The views and work done by Josh, Chris, and Mark are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions or positions of sponsors or any respective employers or organizations associated with the guys. K12 Tech Talk itself does not endorse or validate the ideas, views, or statements expressed by Josh, Chris, and Mark's individual views and opinions are not representative of K12 Tech Talk. Furthermore, any references or mention of products, services, organizations, or individuals on K12 Tech Talk should not be considered as endorsements related to any employer or organization associated with the guys.

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