Some parents don’t want their kids to use tech at school. But districts are pushing back

ARDMORE, Pa. (AP) — Parents across the country who are worried about excessive screen time in schools are lobbying educators to go back to pencils and paper. In places like Pennsylvania’s Lower Merion School District, some families are taking it even further. Over 600 people have signed a petition asking to preserve parents’ ability to opt their children out of digital devices, setting off a clash with the school district. At a meeting Monday night (May 11, 2026), school board members said it’s not feasible to let hundreds of students opt out of technology that is essential to the curriculum.