Board launches review of K–8 screen time, asks for district report by March 2027

The board introduced and seconded a resolution directing Montgomery County Public Schools to conduct a comprehensive review of student screen time for K–8 and return to the board with a report no later than March 2027.

The resolution asks administration to: (1) quantify average daily and weekly screen time for elementary and middle-school students during the school day, distinguishing instructional from non-instructional use and noting program-specific caveats; (2) assess opportunities to reduce screen exposure in age-appropriate ways; (3) evaluate how well content filters and device controls prevent access to harmful or inappropriate material by students on school-issued devices; (4) recommend district-wide guidance for age-appropriate screen time; and (5) outline anticipated costs, benefits and operational impacts of any proposed changes.

Board members who introduced the measure said the resolution is evidence-driven rather than prescriptive and will ask for an operational plan from the superintendent clarifying how data will be collected (for example, via vendor/device logs, surveys, or teacher reports) and the staff resources required to complete the audit. The motion was seconded; the board asked administration to return with a proposed data-collection plan and timeline before the item proceeds to a final vote or board adoption.

The resolution accompanies a broader district initiative on EdTech governance: officials already described an EdTech Ecosystem Modernization Initiative to rationalize digital tools, strengthen data privacy and create a screen-time strategy in collaboration with teaching-and-learning staff.

Next steps: Administration will present a plan describing data sources and staff time required for the audit; the board expects a full report with findings and recommendations by March 2027.