Petition for Intentional Technology Use in Natick Public Schools

A campaign from Schools Beyond Screens - Schools Beyond Screens Natick

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Recent supporters:
Parent signed about 5 hours ago
Parent signed about 10 hours ago
Parent signed about 10 hours ago

Why This Matters

The largest school districts in the country 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 Natick School Committee has the same authority right now. It does not need to wait for state guidance or federal standards. Districts around the country have already acted. The Natick School Committee needs 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.

 
Dear Natick School Committee,
We are writing to urge Natick Public Schools 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.
Our Requests
We urge Natick 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 and middle 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 during the school day. Teachers may retain the ability to use appropriate video content for instruction, but unsupervised student access has no place in school.

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. Prohibit the use of screen time as a reward and for use after work is completed.

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. Disable student access to any generative AI tools, apps, websites and software on all school-issued devices until this technology has been proven safe, legal, and effective and until age-appropriate guidelines are established.

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 Natick Public Schools, we have seen firsthand how screens affect our children's ability to focus, connect with their peers, and engage in meaningful learning. 
The science is clear. The public consensus is growing. We respectfully urge Natick Public Schools to act now to protect the health, development, and academic success of our children.

Sincerely, 
The undersigned

Recent Supporters

  • Parent

    Signed in Natick, MA

    about 5 hours ago

  • Parent

    Signed in Natick, MA

    about 10 hours ago

  • Parent

    Signed in Natick, MA

    about 10 hours ago
130 supporters have signed this campaign

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