LAUSD approves strict limits on screen time for students. Here's what you need to know

The Los Angeles Unified School District approved some of the strictest screen-time limits for students in the U.S., ratifying a sweeping policy on Tuesday. The changes will roll out during the coming academic school year and be fully implemented by the start of 2027, as part of efforts to set guardrails on electronic device use and encourage more hands-on learning. Under the plan, students will not use screens until the second grade. From second through fifth grade, limits are set at 60 minutes, while middle school students face a six-hour weekly cap and high school students a 10-hour weekly limit.

Key provisions include removing device use for the youngest students and barring student-led use of video streaming platforms. The resolution also requires district officials to review existing classroom technology contracts and publish details in a public report. The policy arrives alongside LAUSD’s earlier cellphone ban implemented last year. The article notes that some doctors warn excessive screen time can lead to physical and psychological effects, while critics say the rules may disadvantage students without access to computers or technology at home.