Designing Purposeful Technology Policy for Schools

Concerns about students' use of technology in school environments are growing, and so is the pressure on school districts to address those concerns. Educators, families, policymakers, researchers, and technology leaders are all thinking about how social media use, generative artificial intelligence, and screen time in general are affecting the educational ecosystem in the U.S. This week, the Consortium for School Networking released guidance designed to help school districts respond thoughtfully to state requirements, community concerns, and board-level policy conversations about screen time. "From Screen Time Mandates to Purposeful Technology Policies and Guidance: A CoSN Guide for District Leaders" provides a framework districts can use to create or revise local policies that minimize low-value screen use while protecting purposeful educational technology. The following includes excerpts from CoSN's report.