Petition for Intentional Technology Use in MCPS Schools

A campaign from The Balance Project - Intentional Technology Use - MCPS

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Why This Matters

The largest school districts in the country, led by the recent resolution passed by LA Unified School District, are starting to move on classroom screen time -- setting hard grade-level limits, blocking YouTube and gaming platforms on school devices, eliminating devices for the youngest students, and requiring weekly screen reports to parents.

This isn't happening because administrators woke up and decided to act. It's happening because parents organized, showed up, and made it impossible to ignore.

Your school board has the same authority right now. They do not need to wait for state guidance or federal standards. Dozens of districts have already acted. What they need to hear is that their own community is paying attention and expects them to lead.

This petition gives them exactly that signal. The letter is based on real resolutions that have already passed -- the same structure, the same core asks, adapted so any community can put it in front of their board. It takes about three minutes to set up and a few shares to gain momentum.

Your board gets a concrete ask from real families in their district. That's the whole mechanism. It works.

 
Dear Dr. Guempel and MCPS School Board,

We are writing to urge MCPS to take bold action on the growing crisis of excessive screen time in our schools.
Children in America already spend an average of nine hours per day on screens outside of school. 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 MCPS to follow their example.

Of note, school boards in VA such as in Chesterfield County are also agreeing to and working with families in our state on the same requests listed below. This can be done, right here in VA!

Our Requests
We urge MCPS 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 1st 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 2-5. 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.

As parents in Montgomery county, we have seen firsthand how screens affect our children's ability to focus, connect with their peers, and engage in meaningful learning. Parents have seen children rushing through work, so they can play games on their Chromebooks. The incentivizing of tech in schools as a "reward" needs to stop. The opportunity cost of such practices is real and measureable. Those are hours lost that a student could be engaging in and building real social relationships with peers. The learning management platforms and testing modules that encourage "test taking skills" and guessing rather than core knowledge do not serve lower grade level in building fundamentals. Math for example takes repetition and practice. Algorithms that encourage guesses done quickly but accurately over slower methodical practice of fundamentals should be discouraged. Parents observe little hand written work in support of math practice at lower levels. The use of tech appears to reduce the practice of "showing your work". These are skills our children need. 

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

Sincerely, 
The undersigned

Recent Supporters

  • Parent

    Signed in Blacksburg, VA

    about 12 hours ago

  • Parent

    Signed in Blacksburg, VA

    1 day ago

  • Parent

    Signed in Blacksburg, VA

    1 day ago
183 supporters have signed this campaign

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