LAUSD screen time policy is drawing mixed reactions from parents after the Los Angeles Unified School District approved sweeping restrictions on students’ use of smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices during the school day.
The LAUSD Board of Education unanimously approved the new policy on June 23, banning screen use entirely for transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and first-grade students while imposing strict daily or weekly limits for older students.
District officials said the policy is designed to improve critical thinking skills, reduce digital dependence, and create healthier learning environments.
New Limits Roll Out This School Year
Under the new LAUSD screen time policy, students in transitional kindergarten through first grade will not be allowed to use smartphones, tablets, laptops, or other screen-based devices on campus beginning in August.
- Second and third graders will be limited to an average of 20 minutes of screen time per day, including homework.
- Fourth and fifth graders will be limited to 30 minutes daily.
- Middle school students (grades 6-8) will be limited to six hours of screen time per week.
- High school students (grades 9-12) will be limited to 10 hours per week.
The district will also block access to YouTube and social media during instructional hours and prohibit students from taking district-issued electronic devices home.
LAUSD plans to introduce a new monitoring system capable of tracking students’ screen time by the minute to evaluate the policy’s effectiveness.
Board member Nick Melvoin said the district is seeking to restore a healthier balance between educational technology and child development.
“It’s time to rethink how technology is used in our classrooms to better support student growth,” he said.
Parents Split Over New Restrictions
The policy has generated sharply divided opinions among parents.
Park Jun-hyung, whose child attends elementary school, welcomed the restrictions.
“Limiting electronic devices will help students stay focused in class,” he said. “Even during emergencies, schools can communicate directly with parents, so I don’t see it as a major concern.”
Kim Sang-hee, a mother of three, also expressed support, noting that her children’s school has already been testing locked phone pouches.
“Reducing students’ exposure to digital media during the school day is exactly what schools should be doing,” she said.
Others, however, argue that the policy goes too far.
Parent Lee Jung-ho said schools should focus on teaching responsible technology use rather than imposing blanket bans.
“Students need to learn self-control,” he said. “This feels like outdated rules on hair length or school uniforms that relied on unnecessary enforcement.”
Another parent echoed those concerns, saying high school students, in particular, should be trusted to develop responsible digital habits.
“For a generation growing up in a digital world, banning digital devices feels like an outdated solution,” the parent said.
Some Classes Exempt
The district said the restrictions will not apply to courses where computers are essential, including computer science and graphic design.
Officials also said the policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed based on student outcomes and classroom experience.
As schools nationwide continue debating the role of technology in education, the LAUSD screen time policy highlights a broader question facing educators and parents alike: how much screen time is too much?
