Charlotte Schools Ask Families to Review Proposed Screen Time Rules

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials are asking the community to review two draft options for limiting screen time in classrooms. The district is accepting input from parents, teachers, and students until January.

The first proposal would restrict screen use for students in pre-K through fifth grade. Exceptions would apply for required assessments, learning accommodations, and specific interventions. The second option sets strict daily and weekly limits based on age. Preschoolers could use screens for no more than 30 minutes per day and 2.5 hours per week. Kindergarteners would face a 30-minute daily cap. First and second graders would have a 45-minute daily limit. Students in grades three through five would be limited to 90 minutes per day with no weekly cap.

Beth Thompson, the district’s chief strategy and innovation officer, described both plans as drafts that may change based on public response. Under either option, teachers would prioritize reading, writing, movement, discussion, and hands-on activities. CMS would advise educators to treat the time limits as maximums rather than targets. Thompson noted a concern about how consistently schools can track minutes. She said, “If selected, we would need practical monitoring guidance, reasonable documentation expectations and family-friendly examples of what counts as student screen time.”

The district is also seeking opinions on its use of i-Ready, an online learning platform and screening tool. State law requires districts to use a universal screening tool to identify students who need help. CMS currently uses i-Ready for this purpose. The district also uses the platform for supplemental instruction tailored to individual skill levels. CMS currently recommends that all students use i-Ready for about 45 minutes per week in each content area. Thompson explained that this allows students performing above their grade level to work with more advanced content. The district is considering an alternative that would limit i-Ready use to a targeted intervention for struggling students only.

Parents in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and across the country have questioned the efficacy of i-Ready. Many argue the platform contributes to increased screen time. The district will gather feedback through surveys, virtual information sessions, and focus groups. CMS officials hope to finalize the policy after reviewing the community input.