Letter to the superintendent

[Highlighted] text is yours to fill in.

Subject: Parent request: information and a meeting on elementary classroom technology

Dear Superintendent [name],

We are [number] parents of students at [schools] in [District name]. We share a concern about how much of the elementary school day now happens on screens, and we'd like to work with the district on it.

Our position is simple: technology should be taught as a subject, and used when it clearly improves learning. Reading, writing, and math in the early grades should default to books, paper, and hands-on work with a teacher.

We respectfully request the following information:

• Average daily or weekly student time on devices, by grade, in grades K-5

• A list of the apps and platforms used for core instruction in grades K-5

• Whether elementary devices are assigned one per student, shared, or taken home

• The total annual cost of devices and instructional software for grades K-5

• How the district decides whether a product improves learning before buying or renewing it

We also ask for a meeting with you or your designee to discuss:

• A district screen-time review, similar to [Lake Oswego's 2026 audit]

• A technology advisory group that includes parents and teachers

• A published list of the tools on student devices

We want to be clear that assistive technology, AAC devices, and IEP and 504 accommodations are essential. Any change should fully protect them.

The U.S. Department of Education's August 2026 guidance asks districts to judge education technology by whether it measurably improves learning. We agree, and we'd like to help the district apply that standard here.

Thank you. We look forward to hearing from you by [date, about two weeks out].

Sincerely,

[Your name], on behalf of [group name or "concerned parents"]

[Phone] · [Email]

cc: [Board chair name], Board Chair