The Los Angeles Unified School District will begin a major rollback of classroom technology on Aug. 12, barring digital device use during class for preschool through first grade and sharply limiting screen time for second graders and older students. The policy is intended to reverse the device-heavy classroom culture that grew during the pandemic.[1][8]
Under the new rules, students in preschool through first grade will generally not be allowed to use digital devices in class, while second graders will be limited to 20 minutes a day. Exceptions will apply for students with individualized education plans and for official district assessments, but routine use of tablets and laptops in general instruction is expected to drop significantly.[1][4]
Teachers are also being encouraged to assign more work that can be completed without devices, such as reading, writing and problem-solving tasks. But some educators say the new limits will complicate lesson planning, especially in combination classes that include multiple grades with different screen-time rules. Parents in homes with only one computer have also raised concerns that access to learning tools could become more limited.[1]
The district estimates the policy will cost as much as $4 million to launch and plans to spend the money in phases after assessing needs at each school. Superintendent Andrés Chait said the changes will not all be visible on the first day of school, but that the district will implement them in a systematic and transparent way.[1]
