Several states — and the LA public schools — are setting limits on screen time
The Los Angeles Unified School District has voted to limit screen time for students, particularly eliminating it for elementary schoolers, following parent advocacy and growing concerns over excessive technology use in classrooms. This decision aligns with similar legislative efforts in several states, including Alabama, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia, which are reevaluating the role of digital devices in education. While some experts and advocates support the move due to concerns about cognitive development and data privacy, others caution against broad restrictions, emphasizing the educational value of interactive digital tools.
- ▪The Los Angeles Unified School District voted unanimously to limit screen time for all grade levels starting in the fall, with a focus on eliminating it for elementary students.
- ▪Since January 2026, Alabama, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia have passed legislation to reassess technology use in schools, and over 10 other states are considering similar measures.
- ▪Lila Byock founded the advocacy group Schools Beyond Screens after raising concerns about her son's excessive iPad use at school in central Los Angeles.
- ▪T. Philip Nichols, a researcher at Baylor University, has influenced proposed legislation in Vermont that would allow parents to opt out of screen time due to concerns about data privacy and lack of academic benefits.
- ▪Education technology company Instructure, which provides platforms like Canvas, argues that not all screen time is equal and warns against banning digital tools that support interactive learning.
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Education Several states — and the LA public schools — are setting limits on screen time May 1, 202610:06 AM ET Sequoia Carrillo LA Johnson/NPR When Lila Byock's oldest son was 11, she began to worry about how much time he spent on his school-issued iPad. It seemed as if he wasn't allowed to go anywhere without it. "To the point that he was one day penalized for not having his iPad with him during PE class," she recalls. She asked his school in central Los Angeles to explain why there was so much digital learning, even years after the COVID-19 pandemic: "There was no justification for why it was better," she said.
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