#schoolpolicy

[newsababil360]

Backlash Grows Over School-Issued Devices as Screens Flood U.S. Classrooms

### Are Laptops Turning Classrooms into Digital Battlegrounds? School‑issued devices that once symbolized universal access to education are now at the center of a nationwide debate. From Los Angeles Unified—the nation’s second‑largest district—to smaller districts across the country, parents, teachers, and legislators are questioning whether the push for one‑to‑one technology has created more disruption than benefit. **Key Takeaways** - The rapid rollout of laptops and tablets in the early 2020s is being reassessed as data shows heightened screen fatigue among students. - Educators report increased classroom management challenges, citing distractions and reduced face‑to‑face interaction. - Parent groups are organizing petitions and town‑hall meetings, demanding opt‑out provisions and stricter screen‑time policies. - State legislatures in several regions are drafting bills that would limit the number of mandatory devices per student. - Los Angeles Unified has paused new device purchases pending a comprehensive impact study. - Proponents argue that digital tools remain essential for equity, but they acknowledge the need for balanced implementation. - The conversation is shifting from “one‑to‑one” as a blanket goal to a nuanced strategy that blends technology with traditional pedagogy. [Read Full Article](https://news.ababil360.com/backlash-grows-over-school-issued-devices-as-screens-flood-u-s-classrooms/) #EdTech #DigitalLearning #StudentDevices #ScreenTime #SchoolPolicy #ParentConcerns #TeacherVoices #LegislativeAction #TechEquity #newsababil360

[unitedstatescommonsense]

Data Vis of the Week: Does Per Pupil Expense Relate to Student Performance?

Each year the Census Bureau releases data on how much states spend on public and secondary education. In our most recent analysis, we matched that data up against average student performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 8th grade math test. Here’s what we found: 

The relationship between school spending and average student performance on standardized tests is very weak. 

Readers should consider a few things in thinking about this relationship. First, school spending is affected by many factors: cost-of-living variation necessitates different spending on teacher and staff salaries. Second, this measure of school expense simply totals all different types of school expenditures, which means that in this data, we can't tell what exactly schools are spending money on. Without a better understanding of where the money goes, we should be careful about assuming that more money will mean better educations.

Finally, average standardized test scores are far from a comprehensive measure of student learning. Schools may be spending more on support systems that improve student socio-emotional and behavioral well being. Or, school expenses may be driven up by specific programs that target high-needs students. Those expenses may not drive up average test scores, but could be considered important investments in students.

All in all, this data and growing body of work suggest that increasing school spending alone will not likely improve student performance.