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Board approves guidelines resolution on classroom use of movies and TV
Summary
The Board approved a resolution directing the superintendent to develop written guidelines—by the 2015–16 school year—on appropriate instructional use of movies, TV and video clips, emphasizing alignment with curricular standards and site‑administrator approval for full‑length films.
The Board of Education voted Jan. 27 to ask the superintendent to develop written guidelines governing the use of movies, television and other video media in SFUSD classrooms.
Commissioner Rachel Norton, the measure's author, said the goal is "to set a yardstick" for appropriate instructional use, not to ban media outright. The resolution cites studies on screen time and guidance from medical and academic groups and directs the superintendent to produce guidelines by the start of the 2015–16 school year that will be communicated to parents, administrators and staff. The measure states that full‑length films should be used only when approved by a site administrator and explicitly linked in writing to instructional standards.
During debate board members asked about enforcement and after‑school programming. Commissioner Mendoza McDonald and others sought clarity on consequences and on how celebratory uses (for example viewing a local sports parade) would be treated; Superintendent Carranza said celebratory viewings would be allowed. Student delegates and other commissioners praised the resolution's balance between flexibility and structure.
The resolution was read into the record by Commissioner Orton and passed by roll call (7 ayes). The board asked the superintendent to involve teachers and principals in drafting the guidelines so the policy supports instruction while preventing "entertainment only" uses that are not tied to standards.
Why it matters: The district already has curricular standards, but the resolution formalizes expectations for media use and requires a districtwide statement of principles and procedures to reduce uneven or inappropriate classroom practice.
What’s next: The superintendent will draft guidelines and report back; commissioners requested the district consider how after‑school programs fit the policy.
