LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Unified School District will ban classroom screen time before second grade and has enacted limited use for older students, under a pioneering policy approved Tuesday by the school board that reflects growing backlash from parents and educators concerned about an over-reliance on computers and technology in K-12 learning.
Grassroots coalitions have have pushed for limits in California and nationwide as parents have become alarmed over how digital activities are replacing hands-on learning and peer interaction.
Beginning in August, LAUSD guidelines will prohibit in-school screen time in preschool through first grade. It will restrict daily screen time to one hour in second through fifth grade beginning in November – including homework assignments. Middle school students will be limited to one hour of screen time spread throughout the week in each class, for a total of six hours weekly to account for a variety of class schedules. The time will increase to 1.5 hours for high school students, not to exceed 10 hours a week…