Brazil implements new digital education and screen use rules in schools

New regulations in Brazil are shaping how digital technology and personal devices are used in educational settings. In Teresópolis, the Municipal Secretariat of Education has published a resolution establishing a Digital and Media Education Curricular Matrix. This initiative mandates the progressive inclusion of computing, digital culture, and media literacy from preschool through elementary school.

While promoting digital citizenship and computational thinking, the Teresópolis resolution restricts the daily use of screens. It stipulates that devices such as cell phones, tablets, and computers should not be used as a routine pedagogical tool. Instead, electronic use is permitted only for strictly didactic purposes under specific criteria. In early childhood education, screen use must be exceptional, brief, and teacher-mediated.

This local movement aligns with broader legislative trends in Brazil, such as Law No. 15,100 and Decree No. 12,385 of 2025, which restrict the use of personal electronic devices in basic education institutions. These laws prohibit use during classes and breaks, while allowing exceptions for accessibility, health, and specific pedagogical guidance to ensure technology serves as a tool rather than a distraction.