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Global school screen time and digital device restrictions
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2026-09-17 01:01 UTC → 2026-10-05 18:55 UTC ·
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Educational authorities in New York City and various Australian states are implementing policies to restrict student screen time and promote traditional learning methods in response to academic performance concerns. In New York City, the Department of Education has introduced rules to limit personal device use for students through 2nd grade, with recommended daily limits for older students. Implementation faces potential hurdles, as educators note that many standardized tests and curriculum assessments are delivered via screens. The city is also addressing declining English Language Arts proficiency and high rates of chronic absenteeism. In Australia, several state governments are moving adopting varying approaches to restrict classroom screen use following reports of declining literacy and numeracy results. In digital device usage. New South Wales, Education Minister Prue Car has detailed Wales is moving toward a staged directive to address declining reading and writing standards following poor Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results. The policy, set Implementation is expected to become mandatory begin in 2028, includes 2027, with full enforcement by 2028. These guidelines include strict daily screen caps for younger students: 15 minutes for Kindergarten to Year 2, 30 minutes for Years 3 and 4, and 45 minutes for Years 5 and 6. For secondary students, digital device use Secondary students will be restricted to 25% face restrictions based on a fraction of subject time for Years 7 to 10, time, and up to 50% for senior students. The the government will also mandate at least one hour of daily intends to encourage schools to prioritize pen-and-paper learning. Other Australian jurisdictions are also taking action. tasks. Victoria plans to abolish ‘bring your own device’ programs in primary schools and limit screen use to 90 minutes daily for Years 3 to 6 starting in 2025. Additionally, However, the Queensland government has declined to implement similar mandates. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek stated the state aims to maintain a balance between digital and non-digital learning. Meanwhile, the ACT Government is reviewing continues to review its ICT Acceptable Use policy, with potential changes policy for the 2027 school year.
Versions
- 2026-10-05 18:55 UTC Global school screen time and digital device restrictions
- 2026-09-17 01:01 UTC Global school screen time and digital device restrictions
- 2026-09-13 12:41 UTC Global school screen time and digital device restrictions
- 2026-09-13 02:05 UTC Global school screen time and digital device restrictions
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