Marietta City Schools plans to limit student screen time in future

School Briefs: Screens in Marietta schools, Gwinnett Co. teachers

The Marietta school board has passed a resolution to find ways that will reduce classroom screen time and prioritize student-teacher relationships. In Gwinnett County, more than 1,000 new teachers were welcomed to the district for the new school year during a special event. 

MARIETTA, Ga, - The Marietta City Schools board has approved a resolution aimed at reducing students' dependence on technology in the classroom and placing a greater emphasis on teacher-student interaction.

What we know:

Board members voted Tuesday to begin exploring ways to cut back on classroom screen time while encouraging more hands-on learning and authentic assessments. District leaders say technology should support instruction rather than take the place of teachers.

The resolution calls for a shift away from practices that became common during the COVID-19 pandemic, when virtual learning dramatically increased students' use of laptops and other devices. School officials said the goal is to ensure students continue developing critical thinking, writing and creativity skills through projects and other activities that do not rely heavily on screens.

The measure also seeks to prohibit the use of screens as a behavior-management tool and to promote more tactile learning experiences in the classroom.

What they're saying:

District leaders acknowledged that technology remains an important part of education and modern life, but said they want to be more intentional about how and when it is used. Administrators are also exploring ways to better measure how much time students spend on devices during the school day.

What's next:

Marietta City Schools officials said they plan to gather additional feedback from teachers and families before implementing any new policies. The district has not set a timeline for when specific changes could take effect.