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Parents and School Beyond Screens group urge Long Beach Unified to limit classroom devices
Summary
Members of School Beyond Screens and several parents urged the board to adopt clearer technology limits and contract transparency, citing Los Angeles Unified’s recent approach as a model and requesting disclosure of vendor contracts.
Speakers from the School Beyond Screens coalition and parents told the board they want more transparency and guardrails around classroom technology purchases and use.
"Queremos que Long Beach haga lo que hizo Los Ángeles," said Mau Baker, a parent and representative of School Beyond Screens, referencing a Los Angeles Unified resolution that limits classroom device use for early grades. Baker asked the district for contract transparency and named concerns about third-party platforms, costs and accountability.
Several student speakers described classroom experiences they said hinder learning: a middle-school student said some educational games "se siente que nunca termina" and argued the technology often prioritizes engagement metrics over instruction. Commenters requested a district review of technology contracts, disclosure of costs, and an approach centered on instructional goals rather than device proliferation.
District staff responded that Los Angeles Unified’s policy was a useful reference and that the district would seek to provide contract breakdowns and a plan for family-facing transparency. Trustees asked staff to supply additional details and consider whether local policy should align with regional practices.
