Petition for Safe Technology Use in Salem-Keizer Schools
A campaign from Schools Beyond Screens - Schools Beyond Screens - Salem-Keizer District
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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.
The Salem-Keizer 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.
Dear Superintendent Andrea Castañeda and Chairperson Lisa Harnisch,
We are writing to urge Salem-Keizer Public Schools District 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 the Salem-Keizer Public Schools to follow their example.
Our Requests
We urge Salem-Keizer Public Schools to adopt a comprehensive screen time policy that includes the following:
1. Eliminate devices for the youngest students, Kindergarten to 2nd grade. 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. Reduce 1:1 device use for 3rd through 8th grade. Transition to shared laptop carts and computer labs for grades 3-8. Permanent 1:1 device assignment for young children is not supported by research and contributes to excessive cumulative screen exposure.
3. 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. 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.
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 and ancillary classes: Prohibit all student device use during recess, lunch, music, library, art, physical education, and passing periods for grades K-8. Screen-Free Lunch and PE for Grade 9-12 . The use of computers during high school lunch periods shall be restricted to specific classrooms or library areas specifically designated as study halls. These moments of unstructured time are critical for social development and should not be dominated by screens.
6. Prohibition on Screen-Time as Reward. Individual digital device use or screen time shall not be used as a reward, incentive, or behavioral reinforcement for students.
7. 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. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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 Salem-Keizer Public School district, we have seen firsthand how screens affect our children's ability to focus, connect with their peers, and engage in meaningful learning.
We support a clear, district-wide policy for classroom technology that protects students’ physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development.
The science is clear. The public consensus is growing. LAUSD has shown it can be done. We respectfully urge Salem-Keizer Public School District to act now to protect the health, development, and academic success of our children.
Sincerely,
The undersigned
Sincerely,
The undersigned
Recent Supporters
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17 days ago
Parent
Signed in Salem, OR
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22 days ago
Parent
Signed in Salem, OR
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23 days ago
Parent
Signed in Salem, OR
55 supporters have signed this campaign
Sign This Campaign
55
Signatures
55 of 470 signatures
12% to goal
Every action matters
Recent supporters:
Parent signed
17 days ago
Parent signed
22 days ago
Parent signed
23 days ago
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