In brief
The Los Angeles education board has voted to limit student screen time, making it the first major U.S. school district to do so. Starting next school year, first-grade students and younger will be banned from using devices, with policies tailored based on grade level. The move, influenced by concerns about excessive screen time, aims to promote healthy learning environments and enhance student outcomes.
The Los Angeles education board has voted to restrict student screen time in classrooms, making it the first major US school system to do so.
The resolution requires staff to develop screen-time policies based on grade level and bans first-grade and younger students from using devices.
The district serves about half a million students and aims to reduce its reliance on tablets and laptops, a shift prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nick Melvoin, a board member who pushed for the resolution, emphasized the need to reset after the pandemic's reliance on technology. He noted, This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking screen time in schools to make sure we are doing what actually helps students learn best.
The new rules will ban platforms like YouTube and enable parents to opt-out their children from certain digital tools.
The resolution is backed by research indicating negative impacts of excessive screen time on children, including higher risks of obesity and depressive symptoms.
Board member Kelly Gonez stated, This resolution will ensure we are prioritizing important skills and learning experiences for students, while protecting their childhoods and well-being by setting research-based screen time limits.
Anya Meksin, from Schools Beyond Screens, praised the measure as a cultural shift in how educational technology is approached and expressed hopes for rapid adoption across the country.
