On Board Online • June 29, 2026
By Gary Stern
Special Correspondent
Alabama and Utah have become the first states to pass laws limiting screen time for students in early elementary grades. At least 12 other states saw bills introduced in 2026 that would limit screen time, according to an April review by Multistate, a company that tracks state and local government policies.
New York might be next. In early June, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would consider statewide limits on student screen time in schools.
"My gut tells me that's the way to go," Hochul said at a school in Brooklyn. She noted that many parents have expressed concern about how much time children, especially younger children, spend on cellphones, tablets and laptops, including during school hours.
Days before Hochul's comments, the executive committee of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) passed a resolution calling for limits on student screen time. The union seeks a ban on student use of devices and screens in grades pre-K to 2, including online assessments, with exceptions for special education and translation services.
NYSUT, which successfully pushed for statewide limits on student cellphone use that began this school year, is also calling for the availability of paper-and-pencil assessments for all students. That would appear at odds with the State Education Department's plan to move toward all-digital standardized exams for grades 3 to 8.
The federal government is also cracking down on screen time:
- Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), announced on June 2 that "we will consider a notice of proposed rulemaking and further notice that looks at the surge in screen time for school kids."
- The FCC also announced a "top-to-bottom" review of the federal E-Rate program (worth $2.5 billion annually). FCC is reconsidering how it interprets and enforces the Children's Internet Protection Act, as well.
- The U.S. Surgeon General issued a report in late May calling on schools to limit students' screen time for their mental and physical health. "Limit screen use to support teachers and enable distraction-free teaching," the report said. "Invest in physical textbooks and prioritize pen-and-paper curricula, hands-on activities, and social activities for all grade levels."
The Surgeon General's report also recommends that families limit screen time at home to two hours per day for children ages six to 18.
Meanwhile, Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, has released a 10-point plan for education in the "age of AI." She also called for no screens for students in grades pre-K to 2 and for no student-facing AI in elementary schools.
Some advocates for students with disabilities warn that efforts to reduce screen time must not interfere with the ability of students to access and use assistive technology. Things have "gotten slightly worse" for students who need assistive technology since some school districts and states have implemented policies limiting screen time, according to Denise Marshall, CEO of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. She told K-12Dive.com that actions that negatively impact students with disabilities expose school districts to potential lawsuits citing the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Some school districts are teaching students about "digital wellness" to encourage them to have a healthy relationship with technology. See stories, pages 7 and 9.
Editor's Note: Digital wellness will be discussed at NYSSBA's Leadership in Education Event in July.