Petition for Reasonable EdTech Limits in Our Schools

Dear Loudoun County Public School Board and District Leadership,

We are writing to express our deepest concern regarding the overreliance of our public schools on screen-based learning.

Excessive screen time has been associated with many serious issues, including anxiety and depression, executive function disorders, eye disorders, sleep loss, neck pain, and screen addiction. It is for these reasons that we applauded LCPS’s recent policy on personal devices. However, it is time to acknowledge that school-issued devices present urgent problems of their own.

Internet access on classroom devices can fragment students' attention, making it difficult for them to think deeply and stay on task. Numerous studies have shown better comprehension and retention when students learn on paper vs. screens. Classroom devices also create new behavioral challenges for teachers, requiring them to police online activity instead of teaching.

When students sit and work individually on devices, they are missing out on the chance to interact face-to-face with teachers and classmates, creating opportunity costs for their social, emotional, and physical development.

EdTech apps pose privacy risks through their collection of student data. And by gamifying the learning experience, they can undermine children's ability to focus on work that doesn't trigger short-term rewards, thereby diminishing the capacity for deep thinking.

Additionally, computer-based homework can be a gateway to unsanctioned online activity, placing an undue burden on parents to monitor their children's online activity at home.

We are proposing the following steps LCPS can take now to begin addressing these concerns:

1. Establish a Technology Advisory Committee
Establish a collaborative technology advisory committee with parent and teacher representatives to evaluate both existing and prospective EdTech products, determining whether their educational value outweighs potential harms. This committee must rely on independent research regarding each product's efficacy, rather than studies provided by the companies themselves, to ensure compliance with the Virginia Literacy Act (which requires an evidence-based curriculum).

2. Reduce 1:1 Device Programs
Eliminate 1:1 device programs for elementary schools, and limit use in middle and high schools to times when screens provide a unique educational benefit. Devices can be distributed on carts or in a tech lab where educationally relevant rather than permanently assigned to students.

3. Audit and Limit Number of EdTech Products
Audit its education technology contracts to ensure removal of gamified learning and passive learning in favor of evidence-based software for all subjects and grade levels. Utilize research-backed models, like EverySchool's EdTech Triangle,  to be deliberate about EdTech products approved for the classroom. Block students from seeking out Youtube and other video streaming services. Eliminate recreational screen time on personal devices, particularly during indoor recess, “brain breaks,” and as class rewards.

4. Monitor and Limit Screen Time
Monitor the amount of time students spend on screens during the school day, and establish specific limits. Schools must also adhere to manufacturer guidelines for the safe use of digital devices, including all ergonomic and eye protection measures.

5. Allow Teacher and School Opt-Outs
Allow individual teachers and schools to opt out of district mandates (or "guidelines") for the use of specific EdTech products [like i-Ready, Teach Your Monster to Read, Lexia, Magna Math, etc], provided their students meet reasonable benchmarks for academic progress.

6. Student Opt-Out Options
Allow students to opt out of computer-based activities if requested by a parent and/or medical or mental health professional, with alternative learning methods provided. Require a Transparency and Choice Clause: The district is required to create a formal process for parents to opt out of classroom tech in favor of analog materials including pen and paper assessment. This is congruent with the ONE LCPS strategic plan and core values of “equity and opportunity: ensuring students and staff have access to resources, programing and support” and “encouraging diverse pathways” to success.

Our goal is to work collaboratively with LCPS to ensure our children receive the highest quality education while protecting their health and development. We seek to establish technological norms county-wide to maintain equity and fairness amongst all LCPS schools.

As parents in the LCPS community, we have seen firsthand how excessive screen time affects our children's ability to focus and engage in meaningful learning. We believe these changes will benefit not only academic outcomes but also student well-being.

On behalf of our children, we respectfully request that you take this issue seriously and work with our community to implement these evidence-based improvements.

Sincerely, 
The Undersigned