LA public schools pass student screen time limits for the first time

Los Angeles public school students may return to the age of college textbooks and Scantrons, following a school board vote Tuesday to limit the use of computers, laptops, and tablets in classrooms.

Titled “Intentional Use of Technology,” the new amendment mandates the creation of grade-level and subject-specific screen time limits in all Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools, including a blanket ban on device use in kindergarten and first grade. One-to-one device use, such as individual Chromebooks, will be discouraged from second through fifth grades, as well.

The revised guidelines will also address video-assisted learning programs, access to video streaming platforms such as YouTube, and increased restrictions on games and social media.

District staff is expected to introduce a revised technology use policy in June, which will go into effect for all LAUSD students beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. The guidelines will be updated annually, and schools are tasked with tracking and sharing student screen time numbers with parents.

The decision reflects growing concern about the impact of screen time on young people’s minds and alleged screen addiction, including recent studies by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing a link between high screen time and negative health outcomes. The board unanimously agreed to the technical restrictions, with one exception.

“We know technology isn’t going away and it can be a powerful tool in the classroom. This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time and screen time in schools to make sure we’re doing what really helps students learn better,” said board member Nick Melvoin during Tuesday’s meeting.

“This is not a retreat. This is about rethinking school time…”

Advocates, parents, and even students have spent the past year calling for greater restrictions on technology following the passage of a 2025 cellphone ban banning the use of personal devices during school hours. Schools Beyond Screens, a national coalition for classroom technology safety founded by LAUSD parents and teachers, helped make the decision in collaboration with board members and co-sponsors Melvoin, Karla Griego, Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Jerry Yang, Kelly Gonez, and Rocío Rivas.

“Now is the time for a safe and science-backed approach to classroom technology, one that can be guided by Big Tech talking points such as the amount of screen time,” the organization wrote in a press release following the decision.

“There is much work to be done, and this is just the beginning, but today, we are proud, grateful, and – for the first time in a long time – hopeful. Our children may have the kind of public education they deserve – proven to work and free from unnecessary digital distractions, harmful content, and corporate exploitation.”