Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) students will be returning to campus on Wednesday, August 12th to kick off the new school year. The district will also be implementing new restrictions on the use of digital devices to regulate students’ use of electronic devices during class.
According to City News, the Board of Education passed a policy in June prohibiting the use of digital devices for early education, transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and first-grade students, with a few exceptions.
This policy is part of a broader initiative within LAUSD aimed at reducing screen time for students across all grade levels.
Board member Nick Melvoin stated in June of this year that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of electronic devices became a necessary means for students to continue learning and staying connected, prompting the suspension of previously established limits on screen time overnight.
“Our mission now is to readjust and evaluate the role of educational technology in the classroom, striking a balance between the rights to use technology and the established teaching methods and interactions that we know contribute to students’ growth,” Melvoin said.
Exceptions to the policy include students taking district and state-mandated tests, students enrolled in the LAUSD Virtual Academy, as well as disabled students who require electronic devices as part of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 plan.
Furthermore, students will no longer automatically receive electronic devices to take home, but families can request them.
The policy also encourages teachers to assign tasks that can be completed without the use of digital devices, such as reading, writing, problem-solving, and hands-on activities.
Previously, as the second-largest school district in the United States, LAUSD had already restricted students from using phones and social media during class.
LAUSD stated that this policy was developed after conducting relevant research and gathering feedback from parents, teachers, and community members.