Hillsborough County Public Schools is dialing back daily digital lessons for its youngest students, shifting kindergarten through second-grade classrooms away from routine app work and back toward printed books, writing and hands-on activities. District leaders say devices will still be used when required for state testing and progress monitoring, but that everyday lessons should be “low tech” and teacher-led.
What the district changed
As reported by FOX 13, Hillsborough officials say programs such as i-Ready and Amira will no longer be built into day-to-day instruction for kindergarten through second grade starting this school year. Executive Director of Elementary Education Sarah Garcia told the station the move is intended to "reclaim classroom time" that shifted toward individual device work after the pandemic.
Why officials say they’re shifting away from screens
District leaders frame the change as an effort to better balance what happens in the classroom with how much screen time kids already rack up outside of school, and to make classroom technology more purposeful instead of automatic. The American Academy of Pediatrics has urged families and schools to focus on the quality and context of media use and to build routines that prioritize reading, play and conversation over passive screen time. AAP resources recommend careful limits and shared, high-quality media experiences for young children. HCPS officials say moving toward more print materials and small-group instruction is intended to support early literacy and teacher-led skill building.
Parents weigh in
Some local parents told FOX 13 they welcome the district’s effort to cut back on routine screen time in the early grades and give more class minutes back to hands-on learning. The district says it is sending information to families this week that will outline how K-2 classrooms will operate under the new parameters.
Ed-tech scrutiny and privacy concerns
The decision lands in the middle of a broader national debate about ed-tech. i-Ready, one of the platforms named in HCPS’s changes, has faced a class-action lawsuit alleging the company collects and shares student data, according to reporting by Axios. Curriculum Associates, the maker of i-Ready, has pushed back in public statements, saying it protects student data and disputes the allegations. The company outlines its legal response on its website.
How this will play out this school year
HCPS officials say teachers will still bring in digital tools when they clearly support a lesson or are required for assessments, but that day-to-day instruction for K-2 will center on books, writing, conversation and manipulatives. Families can expect more teacher-led classroom time and guidance from schools on how to reinforce early literacy and limit optional at-home screen activities.
