LONG BEACH, CA — Should artificial intelligence have a place in Long Beach classrooms? And how much screen time is too much? The Long Beach Unified School District is asking students and families to weigh in on those questions as it considers the future of classroom technology, following growing pressure from parents and students concerned about its impact on education.
The district has launched separate surveys examining how computers, tablets, digital learning platforms and artificial intelligence affect student learning, concentration, privacy and well-being. The questionnaires opened Oct. 16 and will remain available through Friday, Nov. 6.
The initiative comes amid mounting criticism of classroom technology, including student-led demonstrations urging the district to impose stronger restrictions on generative AI. During an Oct. 7 school board meeting, students wearing zombie makeup warned that excessive reliance on artificial intelligence could undermine independent thinking and learning, according to the Long Beach Post.
The demonstrations followed organizing by parents, including the local chapter of Schools Beyond Screens, which has advocated reducing students' exposure to classroom technology. The district is now establishing a working group comprising teachers, students, parents and guardians, administrators and industry experts to examine the issue and help shape its approach to technology in schools.
District spokesperson Eric Mitchell told the Long Beach Post that the group will review survey results and identify common themes after the Nov. 6 deadline. Its findings, together with focus groups and additional research, could inform future policy recommendations.
The parent and caregiver survey asks families whether students spend too much time using screens, how technology affects learning and whether digital tools interfere with attention or independent thinking.
It also examines potential benefits of AI, including helping students understand difficult concepts and providing additional learning support, alongside concerns about inaccurate information, academic honesty, privacy and safety.
Families are asked whether students should spend more or less time using digital devices during the school day, whether the current balance is appropriate or whether it should depend on students' ages and learning activities.
The district's existing AI guidance addresses the potential benefits and risks of artificial intelligence, including responsible use, academic integrity and protecting student information. The district has not announced an AI ban, and no new policy recommendations have been finalized.
Students can complete the student survey, while parents, guardians and caregivers can submit their views through the family questionnaire. Participation is voluntary, and the district says responses will be reviewed collectively to help inform future discussions about classroom technology.
Both surveys close Nov. 6.
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