Los Angeles Unified Board Votes To Limit Student Screen Time In Classrooms
The Los Angeles Unified School District board voted this week to limit student screen time in classrooms, directing schools to cap device use and emphasize pen-and-paper work during instructional time.
The resolution, authored by board member Nick Melvoin, instructs schools to set classroom device limits and shift some assignments away from online platforms. About 461,650 students in the district will be affected by the change.
The episode traces back to a tech expansion that began in 2013 under Superintendent John Deasy, when the district tried to give iPads to every student. That program failed and was later replaced with Chromebooks for older students and iPads for younger ones. The COVID-19 pandemic forced remote learning in 2020 and led the district to send take-home computers and internet to all students, greatly increasing reliance on screens. A December 2023 federal study and guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics linked heavy screen time to anxiety, depression, attention problems, and lower academic performance, and by 2025 a small but growing group of parents pressed the board with research and personal accounts that helped propel the resolution.
The move mirrors actions in states such as Utah and Alabama and adds to a national debate over classroom technology. Supporters online praised a return to paper-based learning and cited endorsements from public figures championing limits, while other educators warned that curated, guided screen use can be an effective teaching tool when properly managed.
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📊 Relevant Data
The Los Angeles Unified School District enrolls approximately 461,650 students, who will be affected by the new screen time policy. ([Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-16/california-school-student-enrollment-drops-hit-lausd-la-county)) ([Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-16/california-school-student-enrollment-drops-hit-lausd-la-county)) ([Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-16/california-school-student-enrollment-drops-hit-lausd-la-county))
Public school enrollment decline is steepest in LAUSD and elsewhere in L.A. County — Los Angeles Times
Excessive screen time is associated with concentration difficulties, increased distraction during schoolwork, and lower academic performance among students. ([American Academy of Pediatrics](https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/effects-of-screen-time-on-academic-performance-and-mental-health?srsltid=AfmBOopjHXgpnJWBLdITmPB1pqVD9OmTEYeZUuHq3slKAIlKN3HEs5TL)) ([American Academy of Pediatrics](https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/effects-of-screen-time-on-academic-performance-and-mental-health?srsltid=AfmBOopjHXgpnJWBLdITmPB1pqVD9OmTEYeZUuHq3slKAIlKN3HEs5TL)) ([American Academy of Pediatrics](https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/effects-of-screen-time-on-academic-performance-and-mental-health?srsltid=AfmBOopjHXgpnJWBLdITmPB1pqVD9OmTEYeZUuHq3slKAIlKN3HEs5TL))
Effects of Screen Time on Academic Performance and Mental Health — American Academy of Pediatrics
Screen time among children and adolescents has increased over the past three decades, with a sharper rise during and after the COVID-19 pandemic due to reliance on screens for education and social interactions. ([Medical Xpress](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-screen-children-adolescents-decades-covid.html)) ([Medical Xpress](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-screen-children-adolescents-decades-covid.html)) ([Medical Xpress](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-screen-children-adolescents-decades-covid.html))
Study finds screen time among children and adolescents has increased over 3 decades—especially after COVID-19 — Medical Xpress
📌 Key Facts
- Los Angeles Unified School District board approved the screen time resolution by a 6-0 vote on Tuesday.
- The policy orders device-use limits by grade and subject and bans device use for students in first grade and younger.
- The resolution prohibits student-led use of YouTube and other video streaming platforms and requires a public review of classroom technology contracts.
- The district will incentivize pen-and-paper assignments and must spell out procedures for parents to opt children out of classroom tech use.
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