Kuna, Idaho – The Kuna School District announced plans to issue a formal guidance document on student screen time before the end of the 2026‑27 school year. Teaching and Learning Director Kevin Gifford said the district is responding to growing community worries that students may be spending too much time on computers and other devices.
Why the Initiative Matters
During the COVID‑19 pandemic, the district shifted to primarily online instruction, placing Chromebooks in the hands of students at home. Six years later, district leaders are reassessing whether the current balance of screen‑based learning and offline activities serves students’ educational and developmental needs.
“The endgame ultimately is to have a district guidance document with clear goals for what we believe an appropriate balance of screen time would be,” Gifford told Idaho Education News. In the meantime, the district has already shared three immediate best‑practice recommendations with teachers and administrators.
Immediate Best Practices
- Provide tech‑free options during free periods after assignments are completed.
- Encourage recess and between‑class time without device use.
- Allow teachers discretion to limit screen use for students who may not need it for certain tasks.
These steps aim to give students regular breaks from screens while still supporting instructional technology where it adds value.
Data Collection Effort
The district admits it currently lacks precise data on how much time students spend on devices. To address this gap, officials will begin measuring device usage district‑wide, creating a live data report that shows average screen‑time figures. Gifford emphasized that accurate data will “tell the whole story, so that we’re not just reacting to perceptions.”
Parents will soon receive a survey soliciting their opinions on device usage, though a rollout date has not yet been set.
State Legislative Context
Gifford noted that the district is moving ahead of the Idaho Legislature, where school‑device policies have been a topic of discussion in recent sessions. Idaho Education Technology Association communications coordinator Will Goodman told EdNews in August that the organization plans to lobby for a ban on screens in kindergarten through third‑grade classrooms.
“I know our Legislature is going to be looking at this very topic this year,” Gifford said at the district’s October board meeting. “It’ll be good for us to be already working toward it.”
Looking Ahead
Parts of the initiative will roll out in the coming weeks, with teachers receiving guidance on creating tech‑free opportunities for students. The district hopes the forthcoming guidance document will set clear expectations for families, educators, and policymakers, ensuring that technology enhances learning without overwhelming young minds.
Community members are encouraged to stay informed through upcoming board meetings and the district’s communications channels as the screen‑time guidance takes shape.
Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.
