WASHINGTON — The Department of Education announced Friday a sweeping new initiative requiring all public school students to complete a “Digital Citizenship Wellness Check” before accessing any online content, including homework assignments and educational videos.
Under the new mandate, students must answer a series of questions about their emotional state, recent social media activity, and “internalized biases” each time they log into school-issued devices or accounts. The questionnaire, developed in partnership with three consulting firms at a cost of $847 million, takes approximately 12-15 minutes to complete.
“We can no longer allow children to simply open a laptop and start learning,” said Deputy Education Secretary Marcus Wheaton at a press conference. “Research shows that unrestricted internet access without proper emotional scaffolding can lead to unmonitored knowledge acquisition.”
The system will flag students who answer questions “incorrectly” — such as reporting they feel “fine” more than three days in a row, which algorithms have determined indicates emotional suppression. Flagged students will be required to attend a 45-minute virtual “Feelings Calibration Session” before proceeding to their schoolwork.
Parents attempting to help children complete homework will also need to register for accounts and complete abbreviated wellness checks, though the parental version only takes 8-10 minutes. A new hotline has been established for families whose wellness check results have locked them out of accessing their children’s assignments.
The program will be mandatory for all public schools beginning September 1st. Private schools may opt in voluntarily, though Secretary Wheaton noted that the Department is “exploring options” for schools that choose not to participate.
Several districts have already reported that homework completion rates have dropped 67% during the pilot program, which officials called “a promising sign that students are taking their emotional wellness more seriously than their mathematics assignments, exactly as intended.”
— SATIRE —
Key Points
- Students must complete emotional wellness survey before opening laptops to do homework or watch educational videos
- System flags children who report feeling “fine” too frequently as emotionally suppressed
- Parents will need registered accounts and their own wellness checks to help with assignments
Aporia News – August 23, 2026
