Technology has an important place in education—but it should be a tool that supports learning, not the primary way children experience school.

As parents, educators, taxpayers, and community members, we are increasingly concerned about Poway Unified School District's growing reliance on Chromebooks, educational apps, and AI-powered tools as the primary delivery method for instruction. Research continues to show that excessive screen use can interfere with attention, comprehension, social development, and deep learning, while many educational technologies have been adopted without independent evidence demonstrating that they improve student outcomes.

We are not asking the district to eliminate technology. We are asking PUSD to use it intentionally, transparently, and only when it clearly benefits students.

Technology should be used to transform learning—not replace excellent teaching. Every technology platform, website, application, and AI tool used in classrooms should be independently shown to be safe, effective, legal, age-appropriate, and capable of providing meaningful educational outcomes that could not otherwise be achieved.

We respectfully ask the Poway Unified School District Board of Education to adopt a research-based Educational Technology Resolution by August 2026 for implementation during the 2026–2027 school year.

Specifically, we ask PUSD to:

• Limit 1:1 devices by grade level. Students in TK–5 should primarily learn through teacher-led instruction, books, paper, hands-on materials, and collaborative activities—not individual devices. Elementary technology should be limited to specific educational purposes, while middle schools should move toward shared computer carts or labs instead of all-day individual device use. The district should establish age-appropriate daily and weekly screen time guidelines.

• Teach technology before depending on it. Students should receive developmentally appropriate instruction in computer skills and digital literacy before being expected to complete significant coursework on devices.

• Keep breaks screen-free. Students should not use district-issued devices during recess, lunch, passing periods, or other free time, allowing opportunities for movement, conversation, creativity, and social development.

• Pause student access to generative AI. AI chatbots, AI-powered search, and other generative AI tools should remain disabled on student devices until they have been independently demonstrated to be safe, effective, legal, developmentally appropriate, and supported by clear educational standards.

• Require evidence-based educational technology. Every instructional app or digital platform should have independent research supporting its educational effectiveness, protect student privacy, remain free of advertising, and provide meaningful educational value.

• Conduct an independent review of high-use instructional technology. The district should evaluate widely used digital programs—including i-Ready—for educational effectiveness, independent research support, instructional value, student outcomes, and cost effectiveness. Programs that do not demonstrate meaningful benefits should be reconsidered.

• Increase parent transparency and choice. Parents should provide explicit consent for individual student data-collecting applications rather than blanket approval. Families should also receive regular reports showing their child's district device screen time and application usage.

• Create a meaningful opt-out pathway. Families who choose to limit their child's participation in device-based instruction should be provided reasonable low-tech instructional alternatives without academic penalty, discrimination, or reprisal.

• Do not use screens as rewards. District-issued devices should never be used as behavioral incentives, rewards, or entertainment for students.

• Invest in proven learning tools. Prioritize textbooks, handwriting, paper-based assignments, classroom discussion, and hands-on learning, especially for students in TK–8, where research consistently shows these methods strengthen comprehension, memory, and critical thinking.

• Increase accountability. Publish a public accounting of educational technology spending over the past five years and establish an independent Educational Technology Advisory Committee to review research annually and make recommendations free from financial conflicts of interest.

Our Goal Is Balance.

This petition is not anti-technology. We want students to develop strong digital skills while also protecting the foundational experiences that help children become thoughtful readers, writers, problem-solvers, and critical thinkers.

Technology should support great teaching—not replace it.

By adopting clear, research-based policies on educational technology and AI, Poway Unified School District can become a leader in creating classrooms where technology serves students, teachers, and families—not the other way around.

Please sign this petition if you support thoughtful limits on classroom screen time, responsible AI policies, greater parental transparency, and an educational approach that puts children's learning and development first.

Signed,

Concerned Parents, Educators, Residents, and Community Members of Poway Unified School District

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