STUDY SCREEN USE IN ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS

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A MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO
CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE USE OF SCREEN TIME FOR INSTRUCTION AND
ASSESSMENT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOMS AND REQUESTING THE
PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR
SCREEN USE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOMS.
WHEREAS, research shows that excessive screen time for
young children is associated with higher levels of stress,
sleep disruption, decreased attention span and negative
impacts on social-emotional development; and
WHEREAS, professional organizations such as the American
academy of pediatrics recommend limited and developmentally
appropriate use of digital devices for young children; and
WHEREAS, in many public schools, especially those facing
staffing shortages, screens are increasingly used for tasks
that once involved hands-on learning, exploratory play and
direct interaction with educators and peers; and
WHEREAS, educators report that overreliance on digital
platforms in elementary grades reduces opportunities for
students to develop foundational skills such as handwriting,
early literacy, numeracy, problem solving, teamwork and
communication; and
WHEREAS, families and educators have raised concerns
about the amount of time elementary students spend on
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tablets, laptops and online programs for tasks that could be
achieved through more developmentally appropriate, hands-on
methods; and
WHEREAS, schools have a responsibility to ensure that
instructional practices support the academic, social,
emotional and physical development of students and are
supported by research-based best practices; and
WHEREAS, limiting unnecessary screen time aligns with
the goals of many school districts to improve student
well-being, increase engagement and support healthier
classroom communities; and
WHEREAS, elementary students are assessed using
computer-based testing several times per year, and mandated
computerized tutoring sessions associated with the
assessments are also required, which adds to students' screen
time; and
WHEREAS, as required by the court decision in the
Martinez/Yazzie lawsuit, the state must determine whether
required computer-based tests are culturally and
linguistically responsive and appropriate procedures given
the specific cultural and linguistic characteristics of the
children being assessed; and
WHEREAS, as required by the court decision in the
Martinez/Yazzie lawsuit, the state must delineate the
specific accessibility features of computer-based testing to
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determine what specific accommodations may still be needed by
students with disabilities as well as to determine whether a
computer-based test may create new accessibility issues;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the
legislative education study committee be requested to conduct
a comprehensive study of the use of screen time for
instruction and assessment in elementary classrooms,
including the impacts of programs on student learning,
development and well-being; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education
department be requested to collaborate with families,
educators and administrators to establish developmentally
appropriate guidelines for daily screen use in elementary
classrooms; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education
department be requested to ensure that any required
technology use in elementary school classrooms is purposeful,
evidence-based, equitable and supportive of healthy child
development; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the legislative education study committee and
the public education department for appropriate distribution.