Scottsdale Supports the LAUSD Resolution on Classroom Technology

A campaign from SUSD Parents for Balanced Tech

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Recent supporters:
Kirk Kuller 8 days ago Krista Panosian 12 days ago Sarah Danie.lson 13 days ago

Why This Matters

The data is in: letting EdTech control so much of the school day has led to worse outcomes across almost every measure of student success. If we want our children to succeed in a fast-changing world, we have to double down on the types of learning that make the human brain so powerful: hands-on play, meaningful social interaction, and active, student-led exploration.

 
We are parents, educators, and community members in Scottsdale who stand in full support of the LAUSD "Using Technology with Intention" resolution, a unanimous decision by the second-largest school district in the country to put children's development ahead of corporate EdTech interests. 

We believe the science-backed principles in this resolution represent the standard every district should aspire to, and we are proud to add our community's voice to the growing national chorus of families who agree. Our kids deserve better, and this moment is proof it's possible.

It is time to protect Scottsdale's history of academic excellence and stop the slide towards a school day that's overly reliant on screens. 

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By signing this petition, you will help build support to more formally urge the SUSD school board to take bold action (more details in the draft letter below). The SUSD board is working on a draft policy this summer of 2026; we need parent voices represented.

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Dear Members of the SUSD Governing Board,
We are writing to urge Scottsdale Unified School 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 SUSD to follow their example.
Our Requests
We urge SUSD 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. Follow LAUSD's lead and 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.

    A limit of zero minutes per day for early education through first grade
    A limit of zero to 20 minutes per day for second and third grade 
    A limit of zero to 30 minutes per day for fourth and fifth grade 
    Recommended 60-120 minutes per day for sixth through eighth grade
    Recommended 90-180 minutes per day for ninth through 12th grade 

  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 and risk of exposure to harmful content. Children learn best through hands-on, relational, and sensory-rich experiences - not screens. Using Chromebooks as a default instructional aide poses too big of a distraction for young students.

  4.  Block non-educational platforms on district devices. We request a clear prohibition on Chromebook or screen use before school as well as during lunch, recess, or unstructured downtime. 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. Unstructured time at school is critical for socialization, movement, imagination, and emotional regulation. Sites like YouTube, Minecraft, and Roblox pose well-documented risks related to distraction, inappropriate content exposure, and addictive design, making them inappropriate for use during the school day.

  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. Assign paper, physical textbooks, and off-screen homework. We request that all homework for K-8 students be on paper and pencil only so that school-issued devices remain at school. 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. This will help preserve healthy boundaries between school and home and to reduce unnecessary screen exposure.

  8. Disable student access to any generative AI tools, apps, websites, and software on all school-issued devices for K-8 students. Families should not be forced into using emerging technologies, with unknown developmental and ethical implications, by default. Generative AI tools should be disabled until this technology has been proven safe, legal, and MORE effective than analog alternatives, and until age-appropriate guidelines are established.

  9. Obtain parental consent for each data-collecting app or website. In alignment with updated FTC guidance under COPPA, we request parental consent for each individual app or website that collects student data. This is separate from general district technology agreements and requires app-by-app informed consent.

  10. Prohibit screen time from being used as a reward, incentive, or behavioral reinforcement for students
    Schools should not reinforce the idea that more screen exposure is a prize, particularly when excessive screen use is already linked to attention challenges, reduced physical activity, and difficulty with self-regulation. Using screens as a behavioral incentive increases their perceived value and can contribute to unhealthy dependency and compulsive use. Positive reinforcement should instead focus on social connection, creative play, movement, leadership opportunities, and other developmentally healthy alternatives that support long-term well-being rather than digital dependence.

  11. Provide weekly parent reports of student online activity. We request weekly reports that include time spent on school-issued devices during the school day as well as apps and websites accessed during school hours.

  12. Increase community input and transparency. We request that the district conduct regular surveys on EdTech and screen use, host town hall meetings on technology decisions, and allow parent attendance and participation in Curriculum Council and/or Technology Committee meetings. Families deserve a voice in decisions that directly affect their children.

  13. Support low-tech alternatives for teachers and students. To make meaningful opt-out policies possible, we request that the district provide planning time, professional support, and small resource grants to help teachers offer low-tech alternatives during free time, inclement weather, or for students whose families opt out of digital tools.

  14. Educate families about screen health risks. We ask the district to provide education for families on the health and developmental risks of excessive screen use and how to recognize and respond to issues such as problematic or addictive screen behaviors. The district should encourage programs like WaitUntil8th and the Screenagers Screen-Free Sleep Pledge to help with community efforts. Schools should be partners with families in protecting children’s well-being.

  15. Evaluate all EdTech contracts for educational value and student data privacy. Require independent review of EdTech products. Purchases of EdTech tools should be based on real data and NOT on lofty ideals of "innovation" and "future preparedness." Do not rely solely on vendor-supplied research. Ensure student data is protected and that contracts include accountability mechanisms. All tools should have a tie to a specific learning outcome and prove that no analog alternative can meet the same need. 

As parents and community members in Scottsdale Unified School District, we have seen firsthand how screens affect our children's ability to focus, connect with their peers, and engage in meaningful learning. Furthermore, we are facing a growing enrollment crisis as more and more parents choose private and charter schools as a quicker way to take control of their children's education. 
The science is clear. The public consensus is growing. LAUSD has shown it can be done. We respectfully urge SUSD to act now to protect the health, development, and academic success of our children.

Sincerely,
The undersigned

Research/Reading:
Read the OECD report on the impact of technology in the classroom.
WSJ "How YouTube Took Over the American Classroom" 
"Put Down the Chromebook: The Parent Army Taking Screens Out of Schools"

Recent Supporters

  • Kirk Kuller

    Parent

    8 days ago

  • Krista Panosian

    Parent

    12 days ago

  • Sarah Danie.lson

    Parent

    13 days ago
132 supporters have signed this campaign

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