Turning Life On
Resource Library
Folders
Full Black: Next Steps on Defaults and Digital Product Standards Playbooks
Black tier priorities are the most technical asks in this system as they touch IT infrastructure, procurement, and (for Pause on High-Risk AI and Digital Product Standards) may require School Committee action rather than administrative implementation alone. They’re a natural next step for districts that have already moved on Healthy Defaults or stood up a Tech Advisory Committee, but none of the three is a prerequisite for another.
Blue Tier 3: Tech Advisory Committee Playbook
A Tech Advisory Committee is a standing parent and community voice researching and recommending how the district approaches technology. It gives families a real, standing voice in the district’s technology direction.
Blue Tier 2: Tiered access to screens by grade band playbook
This priority sets a grade-band framework for school-issued devices including hands-on, print-based instruction in the earliest grades, shared cart-based devices in middle school, and one-to-one devices only in high school with real caregiver opt-in and safeguards. It pairs naturally with Healthy Defaults and the Social Media Use Policy, but it doesn’t require either one: a district can adopt this on its own.
Blue Tier 1: Social Media Use Policy Playbook
This priority moves social media out of the school’s official communication toolkit entirely, which means no staff-to-student contact on Instagram or TikTok, no team group chats on Snapchat, no student photos posted to a public school account without real parental consent. It also takes a closer look at the way social media is accessed and used at school by students by blocking social media access on school-issued devices, and preventing social media use for learning.
Blue Tier: Pick up the pace playbooks: Social Media Use Policy · Tiered Access to Screens by Grade Band · Tech AdvisoryCommittee (TAC)
Blue tier priorities ask a bit more of a district than Green: they touch handbooks, device management, and vendor review. They can be adopted locally, on a district's own timeline.
Green Tier: Ditch "Free" Screen Time · Phone-Free School Day · Healthy Defaults on School Devices Playbook
Three easy asks you can work on today in your district. Ditch Free Screen time, phone free schools, and healthy defaults on school issued devices.
Key Terms in EdTech
Having shared language gets us on the same page as district leadership faster. Use and share this guide.
How Students get around Filters and What to tell IT
Kids finding workarounds isn’t a reason to abandon defaults, filtering, or device restrictions — it’s part of why layered guardrails matter in the first place. Use this guide to feel informed, so the district doesn’t have to explain the basics before you can get to the actual ask. You don’t need to understand the technology deeply — you just need to know what to ask, and what a good answer sounds like.
Advocate Toolkit
Complete advocacy toolkit for those first starting out, those who are stuck and those who are interested.
Policy Priorities
EdTech Policy Priorities for Massachusetts with corresponding playbooks
TLO Family Media Plan
Guidelines to manage device use in your home. We've also included a parent script so you can explain the why. Have a conversation but remember you set the rules.
Turning Life On Grant Application
Grants help our coalition communities hold events and purchase supplies. Only member communities may apply for grants.