Petition for Safe and Intentional Technology Use in BUSD Schools

Petition for Safe and Intentional Technology in BUSD Schools, www.berkeleyunplugged.org

Personal Device Use in Schools:

1. TK-8 Bell-to-Bell Implementation by Start of Next School Year. BUSD policy passed in November 2025 states: “Smartphones and mobile communication devices shall be turned off during the entire school day and during district programs in preschool through 8th grade.”

Action: We urge the district to specifically define day-to-day personal device expectations for students, including but not limited to: which devices are included, where devices go, what “off” actually means, which circumstances and spaces are included within an “entire school day” including LEARNS and afterschool programs, any exceptions or special circumstances (including emergencies), enforcement procedures, and consequences for violations. The district must meaningfully engage parents, students, staff, and teachers to ensure all details are understood and consistently carried out across all school sites by the start of fall 2026. 

2. High School Personal Device Review. The device policy for the high school currently states: “Smartphones and mobile communication devices shall be turned off during instructional time only in 9th through 12th grade.” However, classroom practices vary: some use “phone homes,” others rely on self-management, and phones are sometimes allowed as rewards or as time “fillers.”

Action: We urge the district to review current practices and establish clear, consistent guidelines applied across all instructional time to ensure equitable expectations and enforcement.

Across the school day, students are often expected to use personal devices and social media for school-related activities and communications. 

 
Action: We urge the district to review current practices and provide meaningful alternative methods of communication for students and families who wish to reduce distractions, notifications, and dependence on phones and social media.  

 
School-Sanctioned Device Use in TK-12:

3. Eliminate non-instructional and passive screen use during the school day. This includes free browsing, gaming, or screen-based “filler” or recreational activities in and out of the classroom (e.g. at lunchtime, when there is extra time left in class, when there is a substitute teacher, on buses at field trips, etc).

4. End the reliance on Chromebooks for classwork and homework, and implement strong content controls. Require that screen use be justified by a clear instructional need; restrict school-issued devices to approved, educational content only; and ensure all apps, tools and district practices are fully compliant with state and federal laws.

5. Ensure delivery of media literacy education at each grade level. Provide age-appropriate media literacy education at each grade level, including opportunities for parent education. Topics should include: online safety, privacy, impacts of social media and excessive screen time, and healthy media use.

District-Wide Technology Audit and Plan:

6. Adopt a comprehensive, research-informed approach to technology use across TK–12:

(a) Conduct a district-wide technology audit: Review all district-sanctioned internet access, including monitoring and filtering systems, as well as devices, apps, and AI tools, to evaluate how and why they are used, and their impact on student learning and development.

(b) Establish a technology advisory committee: Form a committee of staff, parents, and teachers to review current and proposed educational technology products, best practices, and compliance requirements, and ensure advance notice and opt-in or out options for families, including non-screen or non-app alternatives.

(c) Develop a tiered TK–12 technology plan: Clearly define when, where, and how technology, including AI tools, should be used to support learning at each grade level and why, without compromising attention, skill development, or overall health. Provide guidance for teachers, students, and families on appropriate use. 

The undersigned families respectfully submit this petition and look forward to partnering with the district to move this work forward. [Click here for the full letter with background details.]