The Big Ten

ONE: Reduce Screen Time & Establish Clear Limits

Excessive student screen time is correlated with poorer learning outcomes, negative impact on social relationships, and increased mental health challenges for students. We are asking for evidence-based screen time limits as follows:

Grades K-2: no device use in school

Grades 3-5: no more than 30 minutes per day

Grades 6-8: no more than 45 minutes per day

Grades 9-12: no more than 600 minutes per week.

These limits are inclusive of both in-school activities and at-home assignments. 

TWO: Revise 1:1 Student Device Policy

Maintaining a 1:1 student:device ratio is not only impeding our students’ learning but is draining the county of critical facilities funding. We request the following: 

Grades K-2: no devices 

Grades 3-5: shared devices only (preferably on a cart or computer-lab model when possible)

Grades 6-8: 1:1 devices issued for use at school only

Grades 9-12: 1:1 devices issued and taken home as needed.

THREE: Block Student YouTube Access

While YouTube can be helpful for teachers to provide supplemental educational resources to students, allowing students full access to YouTube is irresponsible and unsafe. Students routinely find ways around any content filtering systems that school districts may put in place and are using YouTube for recreational purposes in the classroom. Students are exposed to countless advertisements, distracting videos, and, far worse, are at risk of viewing unsafe and inappropriate material with no parental or teacher supervision. We ask that the district block student access to YouTube while permitting it for teacher use. 

FOUR: No Device Use During Recreational Time

Recess and lunch are where students build relationships, develop a social identity, and build lifelong friendships. Devices like cell phones, tablets, and computers get in the way of this development and not only harm students’ social relationships but impede the little physical activity they are permitted during the school day. We ask that the district ban both personal and school-issued devices for the entirety of the school day, when not being used for specific assignments in the classroom.

FIVE: Limit Technology Use When Not Relevant to Curriculum

There is a difference between teaching students how to responsibly use technology (digital literacy) and incorporating technology at every step of the learning process even when it is not necessary or relevant. We ask that the district encourage the use of devices only when relevant to the content being taught and limit device use in areas such as Physical Education, Arts, English/Language Arts, and other subjects not directly requiring technology.

SIX: Pause Student Generative AI Use

The use of generative AI by students has been repeatedly demonstrated to be ineffective at best and dangerous at worst. The truth is that we do not have the data to establish evidence-based pedagogical practices encompassing widespread AI use in the classroom. It is possible to teach AI literacy in appropriate settings (e.g. computer science classes, specific school-wide seminars, etc.) while prohibiting the constant use of AI on school-issued devices. In addition, WCPSS currently has no policy regulating the use of AI by students, leaving our children without the guidelines they need to responsibly use this new and powerful technology. We’re calling for removal of generative AI from all school-issued student devices and a moratorium on future partnerships with AI companies until a complete AI policy, including grade level guidelines and specific use instructions, is passed. View & sign our AI use petition here.

SEVEN: Device Use Transparency

Parents currently have little visibility into the tools and programs their students have access to and how much time their students are spending on their school-issued devices. We request a complete list of apps accessible to students by grade level and parental access to student screen time data.

EIGHT: Clear Opt-Out Procedures

While our proposed reforms will greatly reduce and redirect how devices are used by students in WCPSS, some parents may still prefer for their students not to use technology at school. There is currently no formal process for parents who wish to opt-out of school-issued devices, resulting in a complex, highly variable and inequitable experience for families at different schools. We are asking for a formal opt-out procedure to be established by the district and implemented across the county.

NINE: Teacher Support

Returning to analog teaching after years of reliance on devices will be no easy feat. We are aware of what we are asking from teachers and we are determined that they should not be left alone in this reform. We ask that the district allocate additional funding & create resources for teachers, such as a catalogue of materials, analog lesson plans, etc, as well as a task force to create additional resources and respond to ad hoc teacher requests for support. 

TEN: Reallocation of Funding

WCPSS is currently on track to spend $30 million on student devices every year. It is our hope that this money can be reallocated to be used for the textbooks, paper, ink, and other supplies needed to support the transition back to analog learning. As device funding is allocated from the Facilities budget, we hope that any remaining funds will be reallocated to support the ongoing facilities needs in our schools, such as HVAC repair/replacement. 

These requests are largely based on what other districts across the country and within North Carolina have already adopted. For further reading, please see the LAUSD EdTech Policies, New York City Public Schools Screen Time & AI Policies, Granville County Skills Before Screens Initiative, Burke County Resolution for Balanced Instruction, and Miami-Dade Screen Time Guidance.