Screen Time Limits Roll Out for LA Schools

The Los Angeles Unified School District has decided to cut back on the amount of time kids spend using devices in class. The new rules say that students who are younger than second grade cannot use screens at all while in school. The decision builds on a ban that stopped cell phones last year and aims to give teachers clearer limits on how technology can be used for teaching. The board said that the youngest learners—those in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade—will not be allowed to use laptops or tablets for learning. They also banned students from watching YouTube and other video sites on their own during school hours. The rule was first suggested by Board Member Nick Melvoin. He explained that when the pandemic hit, phones and tablets became a lifeline for students who needed to stay connected with teachers and classmates. He said the district now needs to re‑evaluate how much technology should be part of everyday learning.Starting in August, schools will stop giving each student a computer to take home. Instead, teachers can use mobile laptop carts that stay in the classroom for the day. From next year, the amount of screen time will be measured by a computer program that tracks how long devices are used. In the first two grades, kids will get only 20 minutes of screen time a day, and in grades three and four that limit rises to 30 minutes. In the middle school years, students will have about an hour of screen time per subject each week. High‑schoolers can use up to 90 minutes a week for each class, and all of this time includes homework. The district says the new policy will help teachers balance technology with hands‑on learning and meaningful classroom interaction. They plan to keep working with parents, teachers and experts so the changes help every student succeed.