The Los Angeles Unified School District has approved a measure to reduce students’ use of laptops and tablets in classrooms and encourage more pen-and-paper assignments instead. The decision marks a shift in technology policy and is among the most significant of its kind in a major U.S. school system, according to NBC news.
The resolution, which passed unanimously with one abstention, directs the district to establish screen time guidelines by grade level and subject, restrict device use for the youngest students, and create a process for families to opt out of tech use. It also calls for a review of existing education technology contracts.
A detailed policy is expected to be developed and presented later this year, with implementation planned for the 2026–2027 school year. The decision comes after several years of expanded use of digital devices in classrooms and reflects a broader reassessment of how technology is used in education.
Other districts adopting similar measures
Some smaller school districts in the country have introduced comparable policies in recent years, including efforts to reduce screen time and reintroduce more traditional, paper-based learning methods. These initiatives have appeared in parts of California, Oregon, and North Carolina, among others.
More broadly, proposals to limit or regulate classroom screen time have also emerged in various states as part of wider discussions about the role of technology in schools.
