
Edtech Insiders Week in Edtech 12/10/25: OpenAI’s Teacher Certifications, Kids’ Online Safety Bills, Early Literacy Declines, College Admissions Shakeups, and More! Feat. Maya Bialik of QuestionWell, Peter Nilsson of Athena Lab & Emily Gill of LEVRA
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Dec 19, 2025 Maya Bialik, founder of QuestionWell and former middle school science teacher, joins Peter Nilsson, founder of Athena Lab and education writer, along with Emily Gill, co-founder of LEVRA, an edtech company. They discuss OpenAI's new teacher certifications and the implications for K-12 education. The guests delve into early literacy declines, the challenges facing parent-education apps, and the evolving landscape of college admissions influenced by AI. They also highlight the importance of human connection and quality instruction amidst these technological changes.
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Privacy Bills Could Hamstring EdTech Personalization
- Congressional online-safety and COPPA 2.0 debates could constrain edtech personalization by tightening minors' data rules.
- Regulatory shifts aimed at social media risks may unintentionally limit educational AI features that rely on student data.
Caregiver Reading Decline Risks Literacy
- HarperCollins data shows daily read-aloud rates for 0–4-year-olds fell sharply, hitting less than half.
- This decline threatens early vocabulary gains (≈300k words) and widens later literacy gaps.
Admissions Become Yield-Managed And AI-Driven
- College admissions increasingly use yield management and AI to optimize classes and screen essays.
- Early decision tactics and algorithmic processes amplify inequities and transform admissions into a revenue and selection game.

