Gov. Greg Abbott wants Texas schools to put students back in front of books and teachers — and spend less time in front of screens.
Abbott on Thursday called for new limits on the use of laptops, tablets and other electronic devices in K-12 classrooms, building on the cellphone ban Texas lawmakers approved last year.
Speaking during a campaign stop at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Abbott cited studies he said show students perform better when screen time is reduced. He said schools should put more emphasis on physical books, handwriting and direct instruction from teachers.
“Technology should only be used for specific lessons and specific assessments, not as a substitute for teachers or other proven methods of learning,” Abbott said. “Screens should support learning, not hinder it.”
For now, Abbott's proposal is short on specifics.
He did not say how much screen time would be allowed or whether the rules should be different for elementary, middle and high school students. Any statewide limits would have to go through the Texas Legislature when lawmakers return to Austin next year.
The push comes after years of schools moving in the opposite direction.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, districts used federal relief money to purchase laptops and other devices as schools scrambled to offer virtual instruction. Technology remained a larger part of the classroom even after students returned to campus.
But attitudes toward screens are beginning to shift.
The growth of artificial intelligence has added another wrinkle, with educators weighing when — or whether — students should be allowed to use AI for schoolwork. Some Texas districts have already started reducing the amount of technology teachers use in the classroom and restricting AI use among elementary students.
Concerns about the health effects of screen time have also grown. In May, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a Surgeon General’s Warning about the risks excessive screen use can pose to children's mental and physical health.
Six states have passed laws addressing classroom screen time.
Texas has already taken a major step toward getting one type of screen out of schools.
Lawmakers last year overwhelmingly approved a statewide ban on cellphone use in public K-12 schools. The measure took effect Sept. 1 and required more than 1,200 school districts to come up with policies keeping students off their phones during the school day.
Districts have taken different approaches, from locking devices in secure pouches to stepping up monitoring and enforcement.
Abbott said the results so far make the case for going further.
According to the governor, educators have reported better classroom participation and improved grades since the cellphone restrictions took effect. He also pointed to reports of less bullying and cyberbullying.
Phones and social media had been a source of frustration for teachers well before lawmakers acted, with educators warning that constant access to devices was making it harder to keep students focused on lessons.
Abbott now wants lawmakers to apply some of the same thinking to school-issued technology.
That would not necessarily mean removing laptops and tablets from classrooms. Abbott said technology still has a place for specific lessons and assessments. His proposal instead takes aim at using screens as a routine replacement for books, writing and teacher-led instruction.
Some Texas schools are already experimenting with that approach, including limits on how many minutes students can spend on screens during a class or over the course of a school day.
Abbott suggested those efforts could become the basis for a broader statewide policy.
“One educator put it well,” Abbott said. “She said, ‘There's nothing more powerful than a classroom with students paying attention and a highly effective teacher using a great curriculum. That is the recipe for a top education.’”
