Kids and Screens: Balancing Tech in School

The Williamsburg‑James City County school district is tightening its focus on how students use technology at school. The goal is to keep tech helpful while preventing misuse and fatigue. During a recent board meeting, the superintendent highlighted new steps. One is a plan to teach kids about screen‑time addiction from July 1, after the state passed new rules. Another is forming a focus group that will guide how tech fits into lessons. A month‑long study tracked more than 10, 500 student devices in March. For the youngest learners, screen use stayed under half an hour each day. Older students climbed to about an hour and a half, but none exceeded two hours on average. The most popular site was Canvas, the class‑management platform that keeps assignments and resources tidy.Teachers also rely on IXL for feedback, while some classes use computers mainly to organize notes or write. Students said the amount of tech depended on their teacher’s skill, the subject, and time of year. Some classes never used devices at all, while others did so almost constantly. Observations in 101 lessons showed that tech appeared in roughly eight‑tenths of the class time. Most use was whole‑class, with a smaller share in small groups. Parents can also help by using the Securly safety program. With Securly Classroom, teachers block distracting sites and monitor student screens during school hours. Parents who enable Securly Home can pause the internet, block sites after school, and receive weekly reports. So far, about a third of parents have signed up. The district sees technology as a tool to empower learning. It stresses that tech is neither good nor bad—its value comes from intentional, responsible use. The board plans to keep refining these practices so every student can thrive.