Charlotte Schools Propose 90 Minute Daily Screen Cap for 3rd Graders

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) is soliciting public feedback on two draft policies to limit classroom screen time for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The district aims to finalize these guidelines by January, following a year of intense parent advocacy for reduced technology use in elementary classrooms.

The push for less screen time gained momentum earlier in 2026 as parents across the district and the country voiced concerns about student exposure to digital tools. In response, CMS officials prepared two distinct options for community review. Both drafts would require teachers to prioritize reading, writing, movement, discussion, and hands-on activities over digital instruction. The district intends to treat any adopted limits as maximums rather than daily targets.

The first option would broadly curtail screen use across the pre-K to fifth-grade spectrum. Exceptions would apply for required assessments, learning accommodations, or specific student interventions. The second option introduces strict numerical caps that vary by age. Preschoolers would be limited to 30 minutes per day and 2.5 hours per week. Kindergarteners would face a 30-minute daily cap, while first and second graders could use screens for up to 45 minutes a day. Third through fifth graders would have a daily limit of 90 minutes, with no set weekly maximum.

CMS Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Beth Thompson described both options as working drafts subject to revision based on public response. She noted that the primary operational challenge will be consistent tracking of minutes. "The concern is how consistently we can track minutes and whether schools might treat the limit as a target," Thompson said. She added that if a limit is selected, the district will need practical monitoring guidance and clear examples for families regarding what constitutes student screen time.

The district is also asking for input on its use of i-Ready, an online learning platform and universal screening tool. State law requires CMS to use a screening tool to identify students needing support, and the district currently uses i-Ready for this purpose. It also uses the platform for supplemental instruction, currently recommending all students use it for approximately 45 minutes per week in each content area. This practice allows advanced students to access higher-level content, according to Thompson.

CMS is proposing an alternative approach for i-Ready that would restrict its use to targeted intervention for struggling students only. This would eliminate the supplemental instruction component for students performing at or above grade level. The district will collect opinions through surveys, virtual information sessions, and focus groups before making a final decision.

Parents have questioned the efficacy of i-Ready, arguing it contributes to excessive screen time. CMS will review all collected data to determine which screen time policy and i-Ready usage model to implement.