The nation’s second-largest school district is pulling back from digital classrooms. Starting this school year, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is removing screens entirely for its youngest students and introducing strict limits for older grades. The policy change follows growing pushback from parents and educators over classroom technology saturation.
What Happened
In June 2026, the LAUSD school board approved a policy to limit device usage during the school day, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Under the new guidelines, early education, kindergarten, and first-grade classrooms will be completely screen-free, with a phased rollout starting immediately.
Older students face specific daily limits. According to LAist, second- and third-grade students are limited to 20 minutes of screen time per day, or 100 minutes per week. Fourth- and fifth-grade students are capped at 30 minutes daily. Middle school students get up to 60 minutes per subject each week, while high school students get 90 minutes. These limits apply to both classroom activities and homework.
The board voted after parent-led advocacy from groups like "Schools Beyond Screens." Parents argued that students were spending too much school time passively watching videos instead of participating in hands-on activities.
The Bigger Picture
This decision reverses a long-term trend toward digital-first classrooms. Data from Uniqcli shows that 88 percent of public schools had 1-to-1 device programs by the 2024–25 school year, compared to 45 percent before the pandemic in 2020. This transition made tablets and laptops standard for daily assignments.
Now, the widespread use of school tech is causing nationwide concern. Many parents find school-issued devices conflict with screen limits they set at home. Some elementary students even bypass internet filters to watch entertainment videos during class, according to the Christian Science Monitor.
School administrators point out that school-managed devices differ from personal smartphones. As noted by EdTech Magazine, technology on monitored school networks aims to support learning rather than offer social distractions. Still, a rising demand for physical books and handwriting is forcing districts to reconsider classroom screens.
What This Means for Families
For LAUSD families, these rules will reduce evening screen use. School board member Nick Melvoin noted that parents will see less digital homework because of the new evening homework caps.
Teachers must also switch back to paper and physical textbooks. While classrooms used to digital assignments will have to adjust, supporters say the change will improve focus. Our article on how metacognition helps kids learn explains that active, reflective learning helps kids comprehend information far better than passive screen viewing.
Because LAUSD is a national pioneer in restricting classroom screens, its rules could influence other school districts currently balancing technology and traditional learning.
What You Can Do
- Ask your local school board about their device policies and suggest daily or weekly screen limits based on the LAUSD rules.
- Set rules for school-issued laptops and tablets brought home, making sure kids only use them for necessary assignments.
- Keep physical books, notebooks, and puzzles around the house to encourage offline habits.