Miller Creek School District’s 1:1 device program places iPads and Chromebooks in the hands of every student — including children in the youngest elementary grades — throughout the school day. As parents, we are already managing screen time at home. We are asking the district to be a partner in that effort, not an obstacle to it.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and growing bodies of research suggest that excessive screen time in young children is associated with reduced attention spans, decreased physical activity, and in some cases, poorer academic outcomes compared to hands-on and paper-based instruction. For children in kindergarten through third grade especially, we believe a meaningful reduction in daily device use is both appropriate and necessary.

We are asking Miller Creek School District to:

1.    Conduct a transparent review of device usage hours by grade level

2.    Greatly reduce and/or eliminate daily screen time for students in grades K-3

3.    Reduce and set time limits on Chromebook/Edtech use in the upper grades and middle school 

4.    Share data on academic outcomes tied to the 1:1 program with the community

This is not about eliminating technology from schools. It is about balance, transparency, and putting children’s well being first.

Sign this petition if you believe our youngest learners deserve more time learning with their hands, their voices, and each other.