Frequently Asked Questions
Who are we?
Founded in 2025, Schools Beyond Screens is a grassroots coalition of LAUSD parents & teachers advocating for safer classroom technology. We believe the tech in our schools should be student-centered, not corporate-sponsored.
What is our primary objective?
We believe LAUSD needs to develop a cohesive plan and set of principles for the use of classroom technology. Too often, digital tools are adopted without evidence for their safety or effectiveness, based on nothing more than the claims of tech marketers. These products are a gateway to digital distraction, tempting kids to waste time on YouTube or video games instead of learning. And they cost millions of taxpayer dollars that might otherwise be spent on human teachers or facility improvements, all while exposing children’s sensitive data to the dark web.
We are calling on the school board to adopt the following resolution:
LAUSD must undertake a review of all existing technology products & policies to ensure they are safe, effective, and legal, and develop a set of guidelines and principles by which to assess the use of classroom tech moving forward. These rubrics must be developed with the input of parents, teachers, and students, and must be based on independent research, free from corporate influence.
Where can I learn more about this issue?
Start here! More Perfect Union’s 13 minute report, How Big Tech Uses YOUR Kids’ Classrooms To Sell THEIR Products, is a great overview:
Then read Jessica Grose’s brilliant Op-Ed, Get Tech Out of the Classroom Before It’s Too Late.
For a deep dive, check out the National Education Policy Center’s recent report, Fit for Purpose? How Today’s Commercial Digital Platforms Subvert Key Goals of Public Education.
Isn’t LAUSD already “phone-free”?
Yes, LAUSD instituted its Phone-Free School Day policy on February 18, 2025. While LAUSD became a leader nationwide in banning phones during the school day, all of the same harmful distractions remain on LAUSD’s required school-issued devices including iPads and Chromebooks. We’re encouraging LAUSD decision makers to take the next logical step to eliminate harmful, non-educational technology access in the classroom.
This powerful PSA from Smartphone Free Childhood could easily be used for required school-issued devices as well:
Is Schools Beyond Screens anti-technology?
Not at all! We simply believe technology use in school should be guided by thoughtful principles:
Technology in our schools should be used to facilitate, not inhibit, learning.
Technology in our schools should be safe for children, and used in developmentally appropriate ways.
The needs of students must come before corporate profits.
Students should learn fundamental computer skills.
All EdTech products must have independently proven educational benefits for students.
Students should not have access to distracting, non-educational content on school-issued devices.
Parents should be provided with detailed information about their child’s tech use.
Do I belong here?
YES! Our members encompass a wide range of beliefs and practices when it comes to technology, but we are all united in our desire for reasonable reforms to ensure that schools provide technology that is safe, effective, and legal.
Where can I learn more about LAUSD’s Google Consent form?
Watch a recording of our Google Consent Form Town Hall with attorney Andrew Liddell of the EdTech Law Center. We guide you through the form in detail and answer common questions! The bottom line: you don’t have to sign.
We’ve also received updated information (as of 9/9/25) regarding the current status of this form:
Ok, I’m fired up! How do I get more involved?
Also, you can:
Comment about your experiences at an LAUSD School Board meeting!
Start a book club at your school and gather interested parents to discuss The Anxious Generation or 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World or any number of awesome and accessible selections - we can help with recommendations!
Start a WhatsApp group at your school dedicated to discussing these issues!
More questions? Comments? Want to share your experience? Contact us! We’d love to hear from you.