Trending Now - Parents Demand Less Screen Time in Schools Amid Resistance

WHO:

Fast Company - High school senior Aliyah Pack, her mother, Lower Merion School Board member Anna Shurak, parent Sara Sullivan, parent Subashini Subramanian, parent Adam Washington, parent Seth Ruderman, Democratic State Rep. Angela Arsenault, Superintendent Frank Ranelli, high school student Mia Tatar, high school student Elliot Campbell, high school student Joaquin Imaizumi, second-grader Lillian Keshet.

WHAT:

Fast Company - Over 600 people in Lower Merion Township signed a petition to preserve parents' ability to opt their children out of using digital devices during the school day.

ABC News - At least 14 states have proposed laws to limit screen time in schools, with four states—Alabama, Tennessee, Utah, and Iowa—passing such legislation.

ABC News - The Los Angeles school district will ban screens until second grade, require daily caps for screen time per grade, ban YouTube, and require an audit of all education technology contracts.

ABC News - The Lower Merion School District paid $610,000 to settle lawsuits by two students who alleged the district had spied on them via the webcam on their school-issued laptops.

WHERE:

Fast Company - Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, affluent Philadelphia suburb.

ABC News - Los Angeles, California, Vermont.

WHEN:

ABC News - Proposed legislation in Vermont would allow parents and teachers to decline to use classroom tech.

WHY:

Fast Company - Parents are concerned about excessive screen time in schools and are lobbying for a return to pencil and paper.

ABC News - Parents express that they are not anti-tech but want to ensure technology does not dominate the classroom.

HOW:

Fast Company - The Lower Merion School Board is considering updates to the district's technology policies, including repealing a policy that allows opt-outs.

ABC News - The district is looking into possible changes, including stronger cellphone restrictions, not allowing the youngest students to take devices home, and installing software to monitor students in class.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 17:38 UTC)

In Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, over 600 residents have signed a petition advocating for parents' rights to opt their children out of using digital devices during school hours, reflecting growing concerns about excessive screen time. Meanwhile, at least 14 states have proposed laws to limit screen time in schools, with Alabama, Tennessee, Utah, and Iowa already enacting such legislation, while the Los Angeles school district plans to ban screens until second grade and impose daily caps on screen time. The Lower Merion School Board is currently reviewing its technology policies, which may include repealing the opt-out option and implementing stricter regulations on device usage for younger students.