Putting Children First in the Classroom
Join Us for a Critical Conversation on the SAFE Act and the Balance Act
By Dina Alexander, MS
Parents across Utah are asking the same question: Are the digital tools in our kids’ classrooms actually helping them learn, or just adding more screen time?
On Monday, January 6 at 2:00 p.m., the Child First Policy Center will host a press conference and moderated Q&A at the Utah State Capitol to introduce two ground-breaking education bills designed to put student learning and safety back at the center of classroom decisions: the SAFE Act and the Balance Act.
This event brings together policymakers, researchers, and parent advocates to address a problem families are feeling every day: classrooms flooded with technology, often without clear standards for safety, effectiveness, or appropriate use.
Two Bills. One Child-Centered Framework.
The Balance Act focuses on how technology is used, restoring instructional focus by reducing non-essential screen time and prioritizing teacher-led, age-appropriate learning. Together, these bills ensure technology supports learning—without replacing effective teaching.
The SAFE Act (Software Accountability for Education) establishes a simple but essential standard: instructional software must be safe, legal, and effective before it’s used with students. It places responsibility on vendors—not teachers or families—and reinforces student privacy, child-safety, and transparency requirements.
Experienced Lawmakers, Thoughtful Policy
The Balance Act is sponsored by Representative Ariel Defay, and Senate Majority Whip Chris Wilson. Their leadership reflects a strong commitment to restoring age-appropriate limits and academic focus in schools.
The SAFE Act is sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, a recognized leader in data privacy and consumer protection and the sponsor of the Utah Consumer Privacy Act. Representative Doug Fiefia, House floor sponsor, brings deep technology-sector experience and national AI policy leadership, including prior legislation on digital data ownership.
Featured Q&A Expert: Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath
The event’s featured speaker is Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, a neuroscientist and Amazon best-selling author of The Digital Delusion. Dr. Horvath’s work focuses on how learning actually happens—and how excessive or poorly designed technology can undermine attention, memory, and academic outcomes. His research-based perspective brings critical clarity to a debate too often driven by hype rather than evidence.
Leadership with a Proven Record
The press conference and Q&A will be moderated by Corinne Johnson, Executive Director of the Child First Policy Center (CFPC), a grassroots, parent-led organization determined to shape online child safety legislation. A mother of five and a seasoned nonprofit and policy leader, Johnson brings extensive advocacy and legislative experience, having contributed to the passage of several child-protective laws at the state and federal levels. Her work is grounded in a simple principle: child safety isn’t optional.
Dina Alexander, Communications Director, will also participate. Alexander is the founder of Educate and Empower Kids and the author of more than 15 books on child development, online safety, and media literacy. With over a decade of national advocacy experience, she translates complex policy and research into clear, parent-accessible guidance, ensuring families are informed and empowered.
Melissa McKay, Research and Accountability Director, rounds out the leadership team. A nationally respected advocate and founder of the Digital Childhood Institute. Over the past decade, she has led three national online safety movements, helped draft and pass six child safety bills, authored comprehensive FTC complaints against Apple and Google, and is a published author and mother of five.
Join the Conversation
This press conference is an opportunity for parents, educators, and policymakers to come together around solutions that protect students and restore learning.
What: Press Conference & Moderated Q&A
When: Monday, January 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
Join the Livestream here.
Where: Utah State Capitol, Presentation Room
Utah’s kids deserve classrooms designed for learning—not distraction. We invite you to join us and be part of the solution.