Richardson ISD to cut screen time, add more books in classrooms

Richardson ISD is preparing to pull classroom screens back and put more physical books and hands-on instruction in front of students across the district starting in 2026-27. The shift surfaced in a May 14 Board Workshop at the Administration Building on South Greenville Avenue, where trustees were told the district wants students to “learn with technology, not from technology.”

Superintendent Tabitha Branum said RISD’s goal is for technology to be used “with purpose” and for students to be “actively engaging in learning rather than passively consuming content.” The district said the review grew out of feedback from families, staff and community members who wanted more balance between devices and direct, interactive teaching.

The practical changes could reach into daily classroom routines. RISD said it will clarify screen-time recommendations by grade level, extend YouTube restrictions into secondary schools, eliminate technology as a behavior incentive or indoor recess activity, increase classroom monitoring and transparency, and give teachers more guidance on intentional technology integration. The district tied the effort to its North Star Goal of meeting or exceeding academic growth targets, signaling that this is not just a technology policy, but part of a broader academic reset.

For parents, the biggest change may be how much time children spend reading from books, working with teachers and using devices only when those tools clearly advance instruction. RISD said technology remains important in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills curriculum, and its technology page says every student still has access to a device. But the district is making clear that screens should support learning, not sit at the center of it.

The timing matters for families planning ahead for next school year. RISD’s board work session was posted May 8 and opened at 6:15 p.m. on May 14, giving the district time to set expectations before 2026-27 begins. The board material also fits with RISD’s existing device rules, which already require students to stay off phones, wireless headphones, earbuds, smartwatches and smart glasses during the school day. The district says its campuses have been cell phone-free for four years, dating the policy back to 2022.

RISD has also been reinforcing digital citizenship each October, using Digital Citizenship Week to stress safe, ethical and responsible technology use, media literacy and digital well-being. That history suggests the screen-time change is an extension of an existing philosophy, not a sudden break.

The district is already lining up other changes for 2026-27, including ParentSquare as its new mass communication platform and schedule changes for middle school, junior high and high school. Together, those moves point to a school year in which Richardson ISD classrooms are likely to look more structured, less device-driven and more centered on books, discussion and teacher-led work.