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Proctor High School in Utica, New York, installed a $4 million weapons-detection system from Evolv, a company that markets itself to schools, last year. 

It was similar to the system used by Disney theme parks, and if the cost raised an eyebrow, the potential savings could be counted in lives: “The cost is gonna be nominal, especially when you compare it to the possibility of saving somebody's life,” Utica School Superintendent Bruce Karam told reporters. 

Still, just a short time later when a fight broke out in a school hallway, the incident ended in a stabbing. The pricey detectors had failed to catch the weapon. And ultimately, Utica High School replaced its system, installing one more similar to airport security.

The weapon-detection industry for schools is growing, including some higher-tech alternatives that flaunt AI-based sensors that share student data directly with law enforcement. It’s common to see partnership announcements from companies in the sector.

And in a sense, that’s not surprising: Gun deaths have become the number one killer of children and teens in the country, and overwhelmed school administrators are desperate for some sort of response. 

But there’s serious skepticism attached to the growing industry, which many argue is not proven to be effective. This skepticism is spurred on by a number of examples of this technology failing to catch weapons, leading to tragic consequences like in the Utica case. 

Critics have raised other issues, too. Minneapolis Public Schools has been criticized recently for secretly installing gunshot detection systems in schools serving predominantly Black communities. Civil rights groups worry that such systems can do more harm than good, since they are prone to false alarms (from, say, a car backfiring) and can bring militarized responses. The fact that the school system in Minneapolis agreed to host sensors by a company called ShotSpotter only came to light after cyberattackers leaked secret contracts, according to an investigation by The 74.

Officials will likely continue to struggle with the knotted question: How much security — and what kind — do schools need?

📰 HEADLINES

BIG PLANS: The Education Department has finally released its game plan for AI. But with all the well-known problems that accompany this technology, does the department really think it can make sure AI is an asset for educators and not just another headache?

‘A JOB THAT NO ONE SEES’: Family, friend and neighbor (FFN) providers represent the most common type of non-parental child care in the United States. But it is a job that too often goes unseen in the already overlooked child care workforce. To better understand the lived experiences of FFNs, Harvard undergraduate Ashley Álvarez developed a research project and interviewed five of these caregivers. Here, she shares what she learned along the way.

AND THE AWARD GOES TO … EdSurge is thrilled to share that our own Senior Reporter Emily Tate Sullivan won a 2022 National Award for Education Reporting from the Education Writers Association! She took home the top prize in the beat reporting category for her work documenting low teacher pay in the U.S. Read more about the honor here.  

📢 DEALS

Swing Education, a substitute teacher marketplace, raised $38 million in Series C funding. 

Maximal Learning, a company started by former Microsoft employees that uses AI to create personalized instruction, raised $5.7 million in seed funding.

Antimatter, an edtech company that uses memes to teach students, raised $2 million in seed funding.

Learneo, the company that owns CliffNotes, Course Hero and Quillbot, acquired Barnes & Noble Digital Student Solutions for $20 million. 

Lumina Alliance, a California-based nonprofit, received a $600,000 grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention to reduce domestic violence in schools.

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🎧 ON THE PODCAST

DEEP (LITTLE) THINKERS: It’s important to nurture philosophical thinking in kids throughout school and college. So argues a philosophy professor who wrote a book that highlights the natural tendencies of kids to think like philosophers. When big, important questions arise, he says, parents and educators should treat kids like conversational equals.

🏃 MOVERS AND SHAKERS

After the entire staff was furloughed, Bitwise’s board fired its CEOs, Irma L. Olguin, Jr., and Jake Soberal, and opened an investigation into what led to the shutdown. The furloughed employees are suing.

Promethean named Arthur Giterman as chief financial officer.

👀 ALSO ON OUR RADAR

University of Idaho President C. Scott Green is betting his reputation on the surprise, high-profile purchase of the University of Phoenix. (Idaho News)

Indian-based edtech unicorn Byju’s is suing its lenders over the terms of a $1.2 billion loan repayment. (Techcrunch)

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus program is earmarking another $400 million to purchase low emission buses. (Smart Cities Dive)

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Events

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ISTELive 23 Conference and Expo | June 25 - 28 | Philadelphia, PA

At ISTELive 23, you'll discover what's next in education and explore ideas for using tech to revolutionize learning. Get inspired about teaching and learning as you reconnect with peers and meet an enthusiastic global community of educators! 

Education 2.0 Conference USA | July 10 - 12 | Las Vegas, NV

Education 2.0 Conference, a three-day education event, brings forth all the incredible leaders of the sector on its global stage. You can meet and collaborate with the experts while learning about K-12 digital education and various other industry challenges.

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