Blog
The TAKE IT DOWN Act — And The Rise Of AI-Generated Harm
On May 19, 2025, the bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act—Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks—was signed into law in the United States. This legislation is a timely response to an escalating crisis: the online exploitation of minors, including through the creation and distribution of AI-generated deepfakes.
Agents vs. Agency
Who wouldn’t want a fleet of tireless agents doing all the stuff that you don’t have time for, don’t care to do, or maybe don’t even know how to do?
Or is it the start of a modern version of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice? We know how to summon the magic, but we may be about to learn a painful lesson about the difference between agents and agency.
Spotlight on Innovation: VHS Learning’s MSA Accreditation Journey
Middle States helped VHS become an accredited Learning Service Provider (LSP). LSPs represent a growing number of non-traditional educational organizations committed to quality, innovation, and continuous improvement. The VHS journey offers valuable takeaways for schools navigating partnerships and program expansion:
What Can Schools Learn From a Fashion Show?
Whatever this blog post’s title summons to mind for you, it is probably not the fashion show that I recently experienced at Pillar High School (NJ), a Middle States accredited school. But this fashion show reminded me of what the best schools do.
The “Both / And” of AI in Education
Dan Meyer, who is something of an AI Cassandra, has consistently said that students want to learn with and from people who show those students that their thinking matters. AI cannot show a student that their thinking matters. AI can only simulate that kind of feedback.
How To: Professional Development for Skeptics
If you’re a classroom teacher, you might not look forward to professional development days– and I can’t blame you. But I can try to convince you that PD can be more than just a necessary fact of life—it can be powerful, effective, and good for you and your students.
The EU AI Act Is Here: What Schools Must Do Now
While the White House's new AI Executive Order is making headlines, school leaders in the EU need to pay close attention to what's already in motion: the EU AI Act. Adopted in June 2024 and now entering into force, this landmark legislation formally recognizes schools as deployers of AI systems under Article 29—and that comes with real responsibility.
The Coming AI Tsunami
Have you been struggling to keep up with the constant updates, upgrades, and announcements about AI? Had you sort of checked out, because it had all become too much? There is a tsunami coming. Last week, the White House issued an Executive Order which articulates a significant federal commitment to AI literacy and education in the American K12 system.
Notes From The Field
As a professional peer reviewer, you will see the entire system of a school in just three days. That is because Middle States standards and indicators map to every aspect of school operations—from daily classroom practices to long-term planning to foundational documents.
Empowering Educators: 5 Must-Have AI Tools for Teachers in 2025
For teachers, gen AI presents a unique opportunity to personalize learning, get efficient and automate tasks, and enhance student thinking and engagement. Over the past year and a half, MSA has fervently championed the power of AI in education.
On DeepSeek and an Educational Red Flag
Whether it is DeepSeek “extinguishing” facts or ChatGPT providing sycophantic replies or any LLM providing the most likely (ie, “average”) response to a query, educators must develop strong AI literacy.
What’s More Addictive Than Tik Tok?
“Some frequent users of AI companion apps say safety concerns are overblown. They argue the apps are an immersive upgrade to the online experimentation young people have done for decades — from fan fiction on Tumblr to anonymous encounters in AOL chatrooms.”
What Question Has No Right To Go Away?
That part of The Journey—sharing with a peer—was as much about community building as tool building. Because leading change is a lonely endeavor. You need kindred spirits, from inside and outside your school, to inspire you, support you, and guide you. Participants may have come from places as far-flung as South Korea, Greece, Spain, Puerto Rico, and all over the United States, but they connected deeply because of their shared purpose: to lead wise change in their schools.
It’s Time for a Professional Development Evolution
What makes for a great learning experience? It’s actually simple: When learners apply the knowledge they’ve gained to real-world situations that genuinely matter to them.
That is why teachers should have the opportunity to participate in project-based professional development.
How, When and Where Does Change Happen In Schools?
At Middle States, we worried that attitudes of compliance or credentialism would result in schools “integrating” AI into what they are already doing.
That’s why RAIL is not just an accreditation-style endorsement, but also an implementation framework. It relies on the wisdom of Stewart Brand’s “pace layering” model, which reflects how complex, adaptive systems change (or resist change) over time…
Lessons in Change Leadership from Ren Parikh
Some leaders impress you with their intelligence. They seem to have mastered every angle of their work.
Other leaders impress you with their emotional intelligence. They make sure people feel seen and known and cared for.
And then there is a leader like Ren Parikh, the founder of Ideal Institute of Technology (“Ideal”). He’s more like a force of nature…
The 3 Currencies of Leadership
Over a decade ago, I was speaking at a faculty meeting at Malvern Prep, where I was a new Head of School. Not long before I had shared a short paper describing a vision for student-centered learning.
“We need to develop entrepreneurial students,” I said during this faculty meeting. “In a world like ours, they will need to solve problems critically and creatively.”
One teacher—whom I tremendously respected—erupted…
AI Advice for The 84%
According to innovation diffusion theory, 16% of any population will consist of “innovators” and “early adopters,” two psychographics that leap in feet first when they have access to an innovation.
But what about resources for the other 84%? …
Summer reading: ai in education
Given how quickly the AI landscape changes, it might seem counterintuitive to invest time in reading books on the subject. Yet a handful of books will reward your attention.
And at least one book on AI in education is not worth bothering with.
As you head into the summer with more time to read, I hope you’ll find these recommendations useful…
Notes From The Field
No other form of professional learning can enable you—in 3 short days!—to “see the system” of a school, and certainly not while embedding you in real time. It’s like high intensity cross-training. You may come to the team with experience in teaching and learning, but you’ll also learn about governance, finance, facilities, and other foundational elements of running a school. I wish I had participated on more visiting teams before I had become a Head of School the first time—nothing would have been better preparation.