Petition for Intentional Technology Use in Hanover County Public Schools

A campaign from The Balance Project - Central Virginia Region

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12 of 100 signatures
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School Details

2026-2027 school year

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Recent supporters:
Parent signed 10 days ago
Parent signed 10 days ago
Parent signed 10 days ago

Why This Matters

Our kids spend a big part of the school day on screens, and most districts don't have clear rules on how much is too much or how young is too young.

This petition asks our school board for eight specific changes, including no devices for the youngest students, screen-time limits by grade, YouTube and games blocked on school laptops, and a way for parents to see what their child is doing and opt out.

Henrico County worked through these same eight asks and adopted screen-time limits in August. The same eight asks are going to school boards across the state and to legislators in Virginia ahead of the January General Assembly session. Every name here asks for guidance at a district level, and also adds another voice supporting our kids in our state level advocacy efforts.

Signing takes a couple of minutes. If you can, come to a board meeting too. The more we speak out, the more the issue comes to the forefront. Meeting times and how to sign up to speak are below.

Your Hanover County school board

Board members, meeting dates, and how to speak
https://www.hcps.us/about_us/school_board

Agendas
https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/hcpsva/Board.nsf/Public

 
Dear Dr. Lisa Pennycuff and School Board Members,
We are writing to urge Hanover County Public Schools to take bold action on the growing crisis of excessive screen time in our schools.
Research from Common Sense Media found that teens spend an average of nearly nine hours per day using entertainment media outside of schoolwork, while tweens average about six hours. Rather than counterbalancing this trend, many districts have unintentionally compounded it through unchecked use of classroom devices, 1:1 device programs, and EdTech platforms with little accountability. The American Academy of Pediatrics has linked excessive screen time to vision problems, anxiety, depression, addictive behavior, reduced attention span, and lower academic achievement. This is not a future risk. It is happening to our children now.
We were encouraged to see Los Angeles Unified School District -- the second-largest school district in the nation -- pass a landmark resolution in early 2026 committing to a formal Screen Time Policy with specific, enforceable limits. LAUSD's leadership demonstrates that districts of any size can take meaningful action. We are asking Hanover County to follow their example.
Our Requests
We urge Hanover County Public Schools to adopt a comprehensive screen time policy that includes the following:
1. Eliminate devices for the youngest students. Remove digital devices from early education through 2nd grade classrooms, except where required for mandated assessments. Children at this stage of development need hands-on, in-person learning experiences above all else.

2. Set specific, enforceable screen time limits by grade level. Establish clear daily and weekly maximums for student screen use on district devices, with less screen time for younger students. Screen time should be prioritized only when it provides educational value that cannot be replicated offline.

3. Reduce 1:1 device programs in elementary school. Transition to shared laptop carts and computer labs for grades 3-5. Permanent 1:1 device assignment for young children is not supported by research and contributes to excessive cumulative screen exposure.

4. Block non-educational platforms on district devices. Prohibit student access to YouTube, social media, and non-instructional gaming platforms like Roblox during the school day. Teachers may retain the ability to use appropriate video content for instruction, but unsupervised student access has no place in the classroom.

5. Ban device use during unstructured time. Prohibit device use during passing periods, lunch, and recess for elementary and middle school students. These moments of unstructured time are critical for social development and should not be dominated by screens.

6. Provide parents with transparency and meaningful opt-out rights. Share weekly reports on children's screen activity on district devices. Allow families to opt out of specific EdTech programs -- not just blanket consent forms -- and ensure alternative learning methods are always available.

7. Encourage paper, physical textbooks, and off-screen homework. Research consistently shows better comprehension and retention with print materials. Policies should actively encourage analog alternatives, especially for homework at the elementary and middle school level.

8. Evaluate all EdTech contracts for educational value and student data privacy. Require independent review of EdTech products. Do not rely solely on vendor-supplied research. Ensure student data is protected and that contracts include accountability mechanisms.

The science is clear. The public consensus is growing. LAUSD has shown it can be done. We respectfully urge Hanover County Public Schools to act now to protect the health, development, and academic success of our children.

Sincerely, 
The undersigned

Recent Supporters

  • Parent

    Signed in Richmond, VA

    10 days ago

  • Parent

    Signed in Richmond, VA

    10 days ago

  • Parent

    Signed in Richmond, VA

    10 days ago
12 supporters have signed this campaign

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Community Impact

Families across 324 schools are joining this movement

12
Families Represented
8
Schools
PreK-12
Grade Range
School Grade Count
Laurel Meadow Elementary
2 total students
Grade PreK 1
Grade not listed 1
Mechanicsville High
1 total student
Grade not listed 1
Kersey Creek Elementary
2 total students
Grade K 1
Grade 2 1
Cool Spring Elementary
1 total student
Grade 1 1
Mechanicsville Elementary
2 total students
Grade 2 2
Oak Knoll Middle
1 total student
Grade 6 1
Washington-Henry Elementary
1 total student
Grade not listed 1
Cold Harbor Elementary
1 total student
Grade K 1
12 supporters have signed this campaign