Major US school district presses pause on screentime
Image: Los Angeles Unified/X
The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest in America at 500,000+ students, this week became the first major US school district to formally limit classroom screen time.
More details: The LAUSD board’s sweeping resolution, which passed by a 6-0 vote with one recusal, encourages pen-and-paper assignments instead of using laptops or tablets in class, amid concerns over classroom distractions and falling grades.
Other key features:
- YouTube and other streaming platforms will be banned on school-issued devices.
- Students in first grade and below will not be allowed any screen time.
- Schools will be encouraged to move away from one-device-per-student models and rely more on computer labs.
There are also expectations to restrict device use during lunch and recess for most elementary and middle schoolers, while giving parents the option to opt their children out of classroom technology altogether.
The shift comes after years of heavy investment in classroom tech, even as the district moved to ban cell phones in 2024.
Why now?
School leaders say the goal is to better align classroom practices with established guidance on child development. This includes recommendations from groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics, which has long warned about the effects of excessive screen time.
- The policy references research that shows children ages 8-11 who exceed recommended screentime limits face higher risks of obesity and depression, and lower performance on cognitive assessments.
- Officials say that trend accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic, when devices became essential for remote learning, and argue the district has yet to fully recalibrate its approach in the years since.
Not everyone is on board: The shift comes after years of heavy investment in classroom tech by the LAUSD, and some officials say the trend should continue. They argue that providing every student with a device helps close learning gaps tied to income and computer access at home.
- Some officials also contend that technology can improve learning outcomes when used intentionally
- They argue the focus should be on how devices are used, rather than overall screentime.
Looking ahead: LAUSD’s new rules are set to take effect with the 2026–27 school year. More broadly, at least 16 states have introduced proposals this year that could limit screen time or internet use in schools.
📊 Flash poll: Do you support or oppose with LAUSD’s new plan to limit classroom screen time and de-emphasize the use of devices in school?
See a 360° view of what pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that limiting classroom technology too much misses the point, since digital tools can make learning more personalized and help students build skills they actually need. They say the focus shouldn’t be avoiding screens altogether, but teaching kids how to use technology effectively and responsibly.
- Others contend that even if a lot of classroom tech is used poorly, it’s still essential because students are growing up in a complex digital world and need to learn how to use technology effectively, so the real issue isn’t tech itself, but that schools aren’t using it well or explaining its purpose clearly.
- “The role of technology in Utah’s classrooms, in this week’s Inside Voices” –Sara Weber, Salt Lake Tribune
- “What’s Worse for Students: A Boring Worksheet or Ineffective Ed Tech?” –Alyson Klein, Education Week
- “The problem with online education isn’t screens—it’s pedagogy” –Dinesh Gupta, The Hindu
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that turning school into a series of games and screen-based activities is actually hurting how kids learn, not helping. They say real learning comes from struggle, focus, and deep thinking, and that too much tech just trains students to chase easy rewards instead of actually understanding the material.
- Others contend that the real problem with screentime is that schools are introducing screens way too early and letting entertainment-style content creep into the classroom. They argue young kids end up passively consuming instead of actively learning, which undercuts basic skills like reading, focus, and social interaction.
- “You Can’t Game Your Way to a Real Education” –Molly Worthen, NY Times
- “Why is my kindergartner watching ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ in school?” –Lindsay Lieberman, Washington Post
- “Chromebook remorse in schools? About time” –Dallas Morning News Editorial Board
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