Schools cut screen time as research shows laptops don't boost grades

Many U. S. schools once bet big on giving every student a laptop to improve learning. But now some are pulling back after realizing devices often lead to more distractions than achievements. Instead of helping kids focus, research shows laptops have sometimes worsened test scores and classroom behavior. Schools are now limiting screen use to only what teachers assign, returning to simpler tools like paper and pens for daily work. The problem isn’t just about wasted time on YouTube or games during class. Some students have even used school email accounts to bully classmates. That’s why McPherson’s middle school, along with others in states like North Carolina and Virginia, now keeps laptops locked up unless teachers specifically need them for lessons. When students do borrow devices for homework, they often get basic Chromebooks from the library instead of full classroom sets.One reason schools are rethinking tech is the cost. Districts spent millions on laptops during the pandemic, but repairs and replacements keep piling up. Chromebooks, which schools love for their low price tag, last barely five years before breaking down. North Carolina alone spent $448 million on school tech that’s already wearing out. Even in places like Burke County, NC, where leaders pushed for more paper-based learning, reports show reading scores are improving and students report less stress. The push for laptops started with good intentions—a way to prepare kids for a digital future. But research tells a different story. Studies from countries including the U. S. show frequent computer use in class actually lowers math and science scores. For example, an international study found fourth and eighth graders who used laptops almost daily tested worse than those who rarely used them. Some experts warn Generation Z is the first in modern times to perform worse on tests than their parents’ generation. Now schools in states like Michigan are going further, banning screens entirely for younger kids in some districts where reading scores are critically low. The lesson seems clear: technology isn’t automatically the answer in classrooms. Schools are learning the hard way that when screens replace focus or textbooks, learning suffers.