The Los Angeles Unified School District Board voted 6-0 to limit student screen time and require grade- and subject-specific technology policies. The measure bars classroom device use for first graders and younger, bans student-led streaming in class, mandates a review and public report of EdTech contracts, and clarifies parental opt-out procedures. Board members said the change aims to balance digital access with developmentally appropriate, research-based learning.
LAUSD Votes 6-0 to Curb Student Screen Time, Prioritizes Pen-and-Paper Learning
The Los Angeles Unified School District has voted to limit students' screen time.(Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education voted 6-0 to approve a resolution that tightens limits on classroom screen time and emphasizes developmentally appropriate, educator-led use of technology.
What the Resolution Requires
The resolution — introduced by Board Member Nick Melvoin and co-sponsored by Karla Griego, Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Kelly Gonez, Vice President Rocío Rivas and student board member Jerry Yang — directs the district to:
The resolution, which limits the usage of laptops and tablets in class and incentivizes pen-and-paper assignments, passed 6-0.
- Create grade- and subject-specific screen-time policies.
- Bar classroom device use for students in first grade and younger.
- Prohibit student-led use of YouTube and other streaming video platforms during instruction.
- Review and publish a public report on all current educational-technology (EdTech) contracts.
- Clarify the steps parents must take to opt their children out of classroom technology use.
Board Comments and Rationale
Board members framed the measure as a recalibration following widespread device use during the COVID-19 era. Melvoin said devices provided a lifeline during remote learning but now the district must "recalibrate, evaluate the role of educational technology in the classroom, and balance access to that technology with the kinds of instruction and interaction we know help students thrive."
"Building on last year’s cellphone ban, the proposal calls for comprehensive, developmentally appropriate guardrails on instructional technology for all grade levels," the district said in a press release.
Co-sponsors emphasized different benefits: Tanya Ortiz Franklin highlighted the need for human interaction and play for youngest learners and meaningful collaboration for older students, while Kelly Gonez pointed to research showing potential harms from excessive screen time and the need to protect students' well-being.
Gonez stated that the resolution "will ensure we are prioritizing important skills and learning experiences for students, while protecting their childhoods and well-being by setting research-based screen time limits."
Context
The resolution comes as part of a broader national shift. An August Ballotpedia report cited in the release said 26 states have enacted laws or policies restricting classroom cellphone use in K–12 schools, with many of those measures adopted in 2025. LAUSD leaders say the district will now develop specific policies and timelines for implementation and review existing contracts with EdTech vendors.
LAUSD officials did not provide additional immediate comment beyond the press release. The resolution signals a district-wide push to ensure technology supports instruction rather than supplanting foundational learning experiences.
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