In an August 20, 2026 Dear Colleague letter (DCL) issued by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the agency defended technology use in classrooms, saying the use of educational technology is a separate issue from the use of recreational technology. The letter acknowledged the growing concerns from parents, educators, and policymakers on students’ screen time in schools, but said those concerns require both “thoughtful consideration” and “careful distinction.” The DCL also said the policies on screen time and technology use in schools should be made by states and local communities, noting that stakeholders’ questions should focus on whether educational technology is improving learning and student outcomes and not whether students and teachers should use technology.
Recently, school leaders and K-12 technology experts have warned against state and school district policies that simply focus on limiting or banning the amount of time students spend on screens. In fact, the Consortium for School Networking most recently released guidance that emphasizes the importance of reducing “low-value” screen use and ensuring that devices are used for clear instructional purposes.
The USDE’s DCL is used as guidance and not as a means of federal enforcement and advises that policy making on technology use in schools “should focus on educational value rather than screen exposure alone.”
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