Los Angeles becomes first major US school district to limit classroom screen time

The school district, which serves about half a million students, is looking to reduce its reliance on devices after the pandemic. Los Angeles schools to set limits on classroom screen time Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Close up image of students using laptops in a classroom. Los Angeles becomes first major US school district to limit classroom screen time Los Angeles' education board has voted to restrict student screen time in classrooms, making it the first major US school system to do so. The resolution requires staff to develop screen-time policies based on grade level and bans first-grade and younger students from using devices. It comes as the district, which serves about half ​a million students, sought to reduce its reliance on tablets and laptops, which was prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Nick Melvoin, a board member who brought forward the resolution, said student devices were a "lifeline" in 2020, but that "years later, it's time that we reset". "I believe that we have the opportunity to lead the nation, to establish comprehensive, developmentally grounded screen-time limits that puts students before screens," Melvoin said at a meeting on Tuesday. "This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking screen time in schools to make sure we are doing what actually helps students learn best." The restrictions, which are expected to be implemented in the next school year, will ban YouTube and other video-streaming platforms on school-issued devices. They will also allow parents to opt their children out of using specific digital tools. The resolution cited research indicating that children aged 8 to 11 who exceed screen-time guidelines are at higher risk for obesity and depressive symptoms and have scored lower on cognitive assessments. It follows a measure the district passed in 2024 banning the use of mobile phones and social media in classrooms. Women in yellow dress holds multiple cell phones in her hands US states want to ban phones in schools. It might be a challenge "Technology can be a powerful tool, but too much screen time has real harmful effects on our students," board member Kelly Gonez said. "This resolution will ensure we are prioritising important skills and learning experiences for students, while protecting their childhoods and well-being by setting research-based screen time limits." Anya Meksin, deputy director of parent advocacy group Schools Beyond Screens, which has been pushing for the measures, said the move marks "a big cultural shift into how schools approach technology". "This is an historic reform that we hope will trickle down to the rest of the country very, very quickly," Meskin told NBC News. Sixteen-year-old pupils at a high school in Nacka, Sweden, using pencils and paper Back to books - Sweden's schools cutting back on digital learning Don't panic - five ways to stop your kids' endless scrolling Mark Zuckerberg, wearing a navy suit and grey tie, leaving court in Los Angeles in February, flanked other personnel. 'A game-changing moment for social media' - what next for big tech after landmark addiction verdict? Stock image shows a mother holding a tablet while watching something on the screen with two young children at home in a living room. Is screen time always bad and how do I manage it? A black bear in Albany, New York, climbed a tree in a residential neighbourhood and was tranquillised before falling into a net held by wildlife and law enforcement officials. The new maps approved by the state's voters could allow Democrats to flip as many as four House seats. The Southern Poverty Law Center said it would "vigorously defend ourselves, our staff, and our work".