LVUSD Families for Intentional Technology in Schools

Our Proposals:

We, the undersigned parents and caregivers, respectfully request that the Las Virgenes Board of Education consider our proposals listed below. We recognize that technology can play a role in education. However, current levels of screen exposure, particularly for young children, are developmentally inappropriate, insufficiently transparent, and often inconsistent with best practices in child development, learning science, and data privacy. Families deserve meaningful choice, clear consent, and policies that prioritize students’ well-being over convenience or default digital use.

We therefore request the following actions:

1. Match LAUSD’s Policies
LAUSD’s "Using Technology with Intention" Resolution was passed unanimously on April 21, 2026. Key elements of the LAUSD resolution include:

2. Reconsider the 1:1 device model by grade level
Building on the LAUSD Resolution, we ask the district to adopt a developmentally appropriate approach to technology use, including no 1:1 devices for elementary school students, and reduced device dependence for older students. We request  a return to computer carts or computer labs as is deemed curriculum appropriate through middle school. Children learn best through hands-on, relational, and sensory-rich experiences - not screens. Using Chromebooks as a default instructional aide poses too big of a distraction for young students.

3. Assign homework on paper-and-pencil only for TK–8
To preserve healthy boundaries between school and home and to reduce unnecessary screen exposure, we request that all homework for TK–8 students be on paper and pencil only so that school-issued devices remain at school.

4. Disable student access to any generative AI tools, apps, websites, and software on all school-issued devices
Families should not be forced into using emerging technologies, with unknown developmental and ethical implications, by default. Generative AI tools should be disabled until this technology has been proven safe, legal, and effective, and until age-appropriate guidelines are established.

5. Guarantee a meaningful opt-out from EdTech
Families should have the right to opt out of educational technology without penalty to their child. We request a clear, written pathway for opting out, with clear disclosure of purpose, data use, and limitations. We also request that EdTech products meet independent standards for efficacy, and to prove that any benefits outweigh potential risks.

6. Block student access to all gaming, video-streaming, and social media on student devices, and prohibit recreational screen use during the school day
We request a clear prohibition on Chromebook or screen use before school as well as during lunch, recess, or unstructured downtime. Beyond YouTube, this should include access to games and gaming platforms such as Minecraft, Roblox, browser-based “unblocked games,” and similar recreational platforms, as well as social media and entertainment sites that distract from learning. Unstructured time at school is critical for socialization, movement, imagination, and emotional regulation. Sites like YouTube, Minecraft, and Roblox pose well-documented risks related to distraction, inappropriate content exposure, and addictive design, making them inappropriate for use during the school day.

7. Require all apps used for instruction or on school issued devices be ad-free
We request that all apps, websites, and digital platforms used for instruction or installed on school-issued devices be completely free of advertising, sponsored content, product placement, or commercial prompts. Students should not be exposed to marketing messages while learning, especially in a school environment where attendance and participation are mandatory. Advertising in educational spaces blurs the line between learning and consumer targeting, creates unnecessary distractions, and raises serious concerns about student privacy and data tracking. School-issued devices should be tools for education, not channels for commercial influence. If a platform cannot function without ads or data-driven marketing practices, it should not be used in our schools.

8. Obtain parental consent for each data-collecting app or website
In alignment with updated FTC guidance under COPPA, we request parental consent for each individual app or website that collects student data. This is separate from general district technology agreements and requires app-by-app informed consent.

9. Prohibit screen time from being used as a reward, incentive, or behavioral reinforcement for students
Schools should not reinforce the idea that more screen exposure is a prize, particularly when excessive screen use is already linked to attention challenges, reduced physical activity, and difficulty with self-regulation. Using screens as a behavioral incentive increases their perceived value and can contribute to unhealthy dependency and compulsive use. Positive reinforcement should instead focus on social connection, creative play, movement, leadership opportunities, and other developmentally healthy alternatives that support long-term well-being rather than digital dependence.

10. Provide weekly parent reports of student online activity
We request weekly reports that include time spent on school-issued devices during the school day as well as apps and websites accessed during school hours.

11. Increase community input and transparency
We request that the district conduct regular surveys on EdTech and screen use, host town hall meetings on technology decisions, and allow parent attendance and participation in Curriculum Council and/or Technology Committee meetings. Families deserve a voice in decisions that directly affect their children.

12. Support low-tech alternatives for teachers and students
To make meaningful opt-out policies possible, we request that the district provide planning time, professional support, and small resource grants to help teachers offer low-tech alternatives during free time, inclement weather, or for students whose families opt out of digital tools.

13. Educate families about screen health risks
We ask the district to provide education for families on the health and developmental risks of excessive screen use and how to recognize and respond to issues such as problematic or addictive screen behaviors. The district should encourage programs like WaitUntil8th and the Screenagers Screen-Free Sleep Pledge to help with community efforts. Schools should be partners with families in protecting children’s well-being.

We submit these requests in the spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility. Our goal is to ensure that the use of technology in LVUSD schools is intentional, transparent, age-appropriate, and aligned with students' best interest. 

Signed,
LVUSD Families