The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board has passed a resolution to limit classroom screen time for students, marking a significant step in addressing concerns over excessive device use. The measure, approved unanimously on Tuesday, will impose daily and weekly screen time limits based on grade level, prohibit elementary and middle school students from using devices during breaks and lunch, and block YouTube on district devices.
The new policy is set to take effect for the 2026-2027 school year, pending final board approval. LAUSD, the second-largest district in the US with over 520,000 students, currently provides Chromebooks and iPads for online learning. Co-sponsors of the resolution cited research from the American Academy of Pediatrics linking excessive screen time to increased anxiety, depression, and reduced academic performance.
School board member Nick Melvoin, a co-sponsor, expressed hope that the move would set a national precedent. “We have the opportunity to lead the nation to establish comprehensive, developmentally grounded screen time limits that put students before screens,” he said. The coalition School Beyond Screens praised the decision but urged the district to support teachers with professional development and funding for tactile learning materials.
The resolution follows California’s Phone-Free School Act, signed in 2023, which requires all school districts to adopt smartphone restrictions by July 2026. However, LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M Carvalho, currently on paid leave amid an FBI investigation, previously cautioned against sweeping restrictions, citing equity concerns and parental responsibility. The measure is believed to be the first of its kind for a major US district, amid growing bipartisan movements to reconsider education technology use.
