Top Takeaways A movement has been growing in Los Angeles to reduce screen time in and outside the classroom. LAUSD’s school board is expected to vote on a resolution to curb screen use — after it banned cellphones. Screen time can negatively impact children’s mental health, cognitive development, attention spans and academic performance. With his headphones on and his face inches away from an iPad, Kate Brody’s first grade son was so engrossed that he didn’t realize he had to go to the bathroom. Related ReadingSpotlight on ‘addictive’ social media design after landmark verdict against Meta, GoogleMarch 27, 2026 He didn’t used to have accidents. But when screen time started to ramp up in his Los Angeles Unified School District classroom, that started to change. Now, Brody said, “he literally cannot tell that he has to go to the bathroom because he’s so overstimulated.” “It’s addictive. It’s colorful. It’s meant to appeal to kids like candy,” she said. And while her son can’t connect the dots, he does feel embarrassed when his mom picks him up, a change of clothes in hand. While a district spokesperson said that LAUSD “prioritizes screen value” — meaning technology “supports learning rather than how long it is used” — some parents like Brody aren’t convinced. Brody joined Schools Beyond Screens, a coalition of LAUSD parents advocating for limits on classroom screen time, an issue expected to come before the school board in April, reflecting growing concerns about how heavy device use affects students’ learning, behavior and…
