America’s schools face a backlash on digital devices as screens saturate classrooms
Los Angeles Unified School District will ban school-issued devices for students under second grade and impose screen-time limits, joining a growing national movement to reduce classroom digital distractions. Parents and teachers argue excessive screen use undermines learning and mental health, prompting policy changes in at least 14 states and a federal advisory warning about youth screen exposure.
The Los Angeles Unified School District will phase out school-issued devices for students in kindergarten through second grade starting this fall, marking a major shift in U.S. education technology policies. The district’s new screen-time policy, approved by the school board last month, also sets daily and weekly usage limits for older students, blocks YouTube on school devices, and prohibits device use during elementary and middle school lunch and recess periods. Additionally, the district will audit its $1.6 billion in education technology contracts, following pressure from teachers and parents concerned about digital distractions in classrooms. The policy change reflects a broader backlash against the rapid expansion of digital devices in schools, which accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Los Angeles middle school teacher Anna Soffer, who teaches 6th grade English and history, criticized the reliance on laptops, noting that Chromebooks often become a source of distraction. ‘Every day, I’m battling, *Who would you rather listen to, Ms. Soffer or Minecraft?*" she said, adding that she prefers pen-and-paper assignments but is required to use digital tools for certain activities. Parent advocacy groups, such as Schools Beyond Screens, have pushed for stricter limits, arguing that school-issued devices conflict with efforts to reduce screen time at home. Katie Pace, a Los Angeles mother of three, restricts screens in her household—allowing only one family iPad and one television, with no devices in bedrooms or on weekdays. However, her 8th-grade daughter, Clementine, uses her school Chromebook to watch YouTube videos on the school bus and accesses digital apps for assignments, despite rules prohibiting phones. The movement to curb classroom technology is gaining momentum nationwide, with at least 14 states proposing legislation to limit screen time in schools, according to Ballotpedia. The U.S. Surgeon General’s office recently issued an advisory warning that excessive screen use among youths poses a growing public health risk. Districts in other states, including Philadelphia, have also faced pressure to reevaluate their digital policies, as parents and educators question whether technology enhances learning or contributes to distractions and mental health challenges.
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