Last school year, almost all kindergartners in the Los Angeles Unified School District spent time using screens during school. This year, that has changed. The district, the second largest in the U.S., has banned educational technology (EdTech) for kindergartners and first graders. For older students, screen use is now strictly limited: one hour per day for grades 2-5 and two hours for grades 6-12.
The push to limit screen time comes after many schools provided devices to every student during the pandemic. Now, parents, teachers, and policymakers are raising concerns about how much time students spend on screens.
Before the pandemic, companies claimed that EdTech would improve learning by making it more fun and personalized. However, research shows these claims have not held up. A recent report from the United Nations warns that overreliance on technology can lead to inequality, harm, and prioritize machines over people.
Proving the exact harms of screen time is difficult, but many believe waiting for more evidence is not an option. Most U.S. students now have school-issued devices. Studies show that screen time in schools can take up a lot of the day—up to four hours, according to one survey. The New York Times found that screen use increases as students get older. In their survey, 32% of elementary teachers said their students used screens for an hour or more daily, compared to 86% of high school teachers.