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Dallas ISD Implements New Classroom Screen Time Guidelines for Student Digital Well-being

Dallas ISD Implements New Classroom Screen Time Guidelines for Student Digital Well-being

Dallas ISD has introduced new Classroom Screen Time Guidelines to manage students' digital well-being and ensure technology enhances, rather than replaces, teacher-led instruction. According to Angie Gaylord, chief of Academic Services, the district is enforcing strict screen time limits. For pre-kindergarten to second grade, the maximum daily screen time is 60 minutes. Students in third through fifth grades are limited to 90 minutes per day, while sixth through eighth graders have a maximum of 120 minutes. For high school students (ninth through twelfth grades), screen use will vary based on their chosen academic pathways, such as AP, IB, P-TECH, dual-credit, and Career and Technical Education courses. The guidelines also provide practical classroom examples, encouraging active learning by transforming passive consumption, like watching educational videos, into engaging activities such as predicting outcomes, summarizing content, and peer discussions.

Alabama Schools Re-evaluate Screen Time Amidst Concerns from Educators and Parents

Alabama Schools Re-evaluate Screen Time Amidst Concerns from Educators and Parents

Alabama schools are re-evaluating the role of screen time in classrooms following concerns from veteran teachers and parents, despite a new state law restricting screen use for younger children. Governor Kay Ivey signed the Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act in March, which bans screen time for children two and under, prohibits background television and passive screen time in all settings, and mandates screen-time standards and annual training for childcare facilities, Pre-K programs, and kindergarten students by January 1, 2027. Local school boards must adopt policies for kindergarten classrooms by the 2027-2028 school year. However, a WBRC investigation found that most Alabama school districts are not tracking student screen time for grades 1-12, and many lack formal opt-out processes for parents. Veteran teacher Misty Gossett, who has limited technology in her classroom for years, observes negative impacts on students' attention spans, fine motor skills, and social development due to excessiv...

NYC, the nation's largest school system, bans AI for students through 8th grade

NYC, the nation's largest school system, bans AI for students through 8th grade

New York City’s public school system will ban artificial intelligence for students through the 8th grade during the upcoming school year

Mamdani imposes one-year ban on AI for most NYC students

Mamdani imposes one-year ban on AI for most NYC students

NEW YORK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - New York City officials announced a one-year moratorium on students using artificial intelligence in public elementary and middle schools, the latest step by public officials to set guidelines around new technology in the classroom.

The Commercial Appeal

Houston defied the odds. Memphis can, too | Opinion

Houston defied the odds. Memphis can, too | Opinion

State Rep. Mark White says Memphis should adopt a Houston-style oversight board to improve student performance.

Veteran Teacher Advocates for Reduced Classroom Screen Time Amidst U.S. Department of Education Guidance

Veteran Teacher Advocates for Reduced Classroom Screen Time Amidst U.S. Department of Education Guidance

Misty Gossett, a veteran teacher in Walker County, Alabama, is advocating for significantly limiting screen time in classrooms, a stance she adopted years ago after observing negative impacts on her students' learning and development. Gossett, who began teaching in 1998, noted a decline in handwriting, attention spans, fine motor skills, creativity, and social interaction among students with increased screen exposure. Her classroom now largely eschews iPads and tablets, favoring traditional methods. This approach aligns with recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, which advises schools to evaluate and restrict screen time when it does not genuinely benefit learning. The guidance encourages transparency regarding screen usage and the removal of ineffective digital tools. A WBRC 6 News investigation revealed that most Alabama school districts do not track student screen time, and few have formal opt-out policies for parents, despite growing concerns from educators and parents alike.

Study Reveals Pitfalls of Pinterest and TeachersPayTeachers for Novice Educators in Curriculum Development

Study Reveals Pitfalls of Pinterest and TeachersPayTeachers for Novice Educators in Curriculum Development

A qualitative case study investigated how a preservice elementary teacher, Hannah, utilized online platforms like Pinterest and TeachersPayTeachers (TpT) to develop a social studies unit. The study found that Hannah, lacking direct curricular and mentor support, turned to these platforms for lesson ideas and activities. While these resources initially served as 'boundary objects' to help her navigate the unfamiliar territory of a first-grade classroom, they ultimately led to curricular incoherence. Hannah's approach involved finding 'hands-on' activities first, then attempting to integrate them with content and standards, often as an afterthought. This 'activity-first' mentality resulted in lessons that were confusing for students, strayed from stated objectives and state standards, and replaced meaningful assessments with crafts. For instance, a lesson using crayons as a metaphor for diversity proved too abstract for first-graders, and a community-building activity with paper ripping also failed to convey...

Arizona Republic

School chief candidates split as Kyrene eyes social-emotional learning

School chief candidates split as Kyrene eyes social-emotional learning

Kyrene School District is looking to implement social and emotional learning for K-5 students. School leaders weigh-in on the curriculum.

Parents Demanding Tech Opt Outs Take Their Fight to Federal Court

Parents Demanding Tech Opt Outs Take Their Fight to Federal Court

Seven parents in a Philadelphia suburb have sued their school district in federal court for not allowing families to opt out of internet use

Worcester County Public Schools Achieve Top Test Scores Through Integrated Approach

Worcester County Public Schools Achieve Top Test Scores Through Integrated Approach

Worcester County Public Schools have demonstrated exceptional academic performance, achieving the highest proficiency levels in Maryland's Comprehensive Assessment Program. The district has led in math proficiency for two consecutive years and English proficiency for the past three years. This spring, nearly 70% of Worcester students were proficient in English testing, significantly surpassing the state's 52% proficiency rate. In math, approximately 49% of Worcester students achieved proficiency, compared to the state average of 27%. Pocomoke Elementary, a Title 1 school, exemplifies this success with a four-star rating on the state report card. The district attributes these results to a blend of supportive culture, experienced educators, and individualized student attention, including in-house assessments that identify student strengths and weaknesses.

Chesterfield County Public Schools Reduces Middle School Screen Time Following Parental Advocacy

Chesterfield County Public Schools Reduces Middle School Screen Time Following Parental Advocacy

Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) in Virginia is implementing significant reductions in classroom screen time, particularly at Midlothian Middle School, in response to sustained pressure from parents. Midlothian Middle School Principal Arianne Hayes announced that students will not receive their Chromebooks until the third week of school, emphasizing a return to traditional learning methods like pencil, paper, and dry-erase markers. When devices are introduced, their use will be limited to approximately 20 minutes per class, primarily for formative or summative assessments. This shift also includes a district-wide decision by Superintendent John Murray to no longer send Chromebooks home with students in kindergarten through second grade, a practice that became common during the pandemic. Parents, such as Amber Rhodes and Taylor Butler, have been vocal advocates for these changes, expressing concerns about the extensive use of screens in early education and its potential impact on child development....

Higher Education Criticized for Failure to Measure and Prove Student Learning Outcomes

Higher Education Criticized for Failure to Measure and Prove Student Learning Outcomes

U.S. higher education institutions are facing a growing crisis of confidence due to their collective inability or unwillingness to measure and prove what and how much students actually learn. This lack of tangible evidence makes it difficult for colleges and universities to persuade prospective students, their families, employers, and governments that their 'product' is worth the investment. Historically, higher education has relied on proxies like post-college earnings to demonstrate value, but this data has often reinforced rather than resolved public doubts. The issue is becoming more critical as artificial intelligence continues to reshape the landscape of necessary knowledge and skills, intensifying the need for institutions to demonstrate the development of 'durable skills' in their graduates.