From Campus to Classroom: Stories That Shape Education
- The board urges educators to emphasize strong instruction and hands-on experiential learning rather than default device use.
- A draft policy was discussed at the recent policy committee meeting.
- Proposal sets daily instructional screen limits: K-2 60, 3-5 90, 6-8 120, 9-12 150 minutes.
- The board will consider the policy in June; parents can give public comment or message Atlanta Public Schools.
The board chair says the policy is not about being anti-technology, but instead providing instructional balance.
ATLANTA — How much time is too much time learning on a screen? Atlanta Public Schools is working to define that, as the school board is reviewing a screen time policy for its classrooms.
A draft of the policy, was discussed at last week’s policy committee meeting.
APS School Board Chair Jessica Johnson said some parents have voiced concerns about instructional time on devices in class.
So we’re just shifting that narrative and encouraging our educators to lean into strong instruction and hands-on experiential learning for our students,” Johnson said.
The board plans to have a screen time instructional policy in place for next school year.
“This isn’t an anti-technology policy,” Johnson said. “It really is about creating more purposeful use of technology at various grade bands.”
Under the current proposal, the maximum instructional screen time during the day is 60 minutes for grades K-2, 90 minutes for grades 3-5, 120 minutes for grades 6-8, and 150 minutes for grades 9-12.
The policy states technology has to be used with a clear instructional purpose, not as a default method.
APS parent Annsley Klehr thinks current technology use schools can be overwhelming, particularly at the middle school level. She thinks the limits set in APS’ proposal make sense.
“I think it looks amazing actually, I mean even from the youngest children on up, I think it’s important to teach how we use technology, appropriate uses, and it can absolutely be used in a classroom, but it shouldn’t be the only method,” Klehr said.
The policy comes before the full board at its meeting in June. Parents can give feedback during public comment at that board meeting or by sending a message to the board here.
The board may vote on the policy at that meeting, or wait until its next meeting.
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