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LAUSD adopts research-informed screen-time limits; grades TK–1 to start with zero minutes
Summary
After months of public engagement and revisions, the Board approved a graded screen-time policy that phases in limits by grade band, preserves teacher judgment for instructional uses and exempts mandated state assessments; the policy includes transparency and monitoring plans and a phased rollout starting in August for early grades.
The Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board on June 23 approved a detailed districtwide screen-time policy that sets maximum daily and weekly limits by grade band, prioritizes teacher-led instruction, and establishes implementation guardrails for devices and apps.
District officials said the policy grew from a board resolution adopted in April, a ThoughtExchange that gathered roughly 19,000 responses, and a literature review from the Office of Research and Program Evaluation. The document sets a zero-minute default for early education through first grade when in-class screens are nonessential; it also sets lower limits for grades 2–5 and graded weekly/subject caps for middle and high school, with secondary implementation phased after the elementary rollout.
Staff emphasized several design principles: (1) instruction is led by a teacher and should not be replaced by technology; (2) technology use must be purposeful and developmentally appropriate; (3) district devices and systems should prioritize aligned educational content; and (4) families are essential partners. The policy exempts state- and district-mandated assessments and specified assistive technologies.
Board members and members of the public pushed staff on implementation detail: monitoring and enforcement, privacy and security for device-level monitoring tools, handling of students with disabilities and individualized education program (IEP) accommodations, and whether take-home, one-to-one devices remain an option for families who need them. Staff responded that families may still opt in to take-home devices and that the policy includes a path for IEP/504-based exceptions; staff also committed to procurement with cybersecurity reviews and to providing principal toolkits and family-facing materials before the first phase of implementation.
Board amendments modified grade-band minutes and added an upper weekly cap for secondary grades to address implementation complexity across different bell schedules. The policy also requires an annual review incorporating educator and family feedback.
Implementation will be phased: TK–1 zero-minute limits become effective in August 2026 with school-year professional development for principals and teachers; grades 2–5 will follow in fall 2026–27; grades 6–12 will be phased after the district procures a monitoring tool and provides additional training. Staff said they will report back to the board after the fall implementation window and maintain ongoing community engagement.
Public commenters ranged from teachers and school librarians to advocacy groups and technology researchers; many urged stricter elementary limits and an immediate moratorium on generative AI until the ad hoc committee completes its review. Others warned the board to preserve equitable access for low-income students who rely on district devices for homework and family services.
The policy passed on a recorded vote after board amendments and recusals were recorded; the Board President recused himself because of a financial conflict of interest noted publicly.
