Governor’s Commission on Screen-Based Instruction meets for first time

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - The Governor’s Commission on Screen-Based Instruction met for the first time in Montgomery Monday morning.

The commission is going to be giving policy recommendations and their findings about screen time to the governor, legislature and State Board of Education.

“All screen time is not equal,” said Rep. Jeana Ross, R-Guntersville. “We want to focus on what is quality and what do enhance instruction, not replace it.”

Rep. Ross, a member of the commission, said the group wants to make sure any technology used in Alabama classrooms is actually helping students to succeed.

This past session, Rep. Ross sponsored a bill, House Bill 78, that banned the use of screen-based instruction for children less than two years old. The bill also sets a one-hour limit for children between two and five years old. House Bill 78 will take effect Jan. 1.

“Now we’ve got some time to really pull people together and be able to construct and develop that bill that will best serve our teachers our children and our families,” she said.

The commission was created through an executive order by Gov. Kay Ivey in July.

The group will give recommendations about age and developmentally appropriate limits on screen-based instruction, guidance for educators and school officials and steps to ensure technology enhances education rather than replacing teacher-led instruction.

“We want to make sure that we’re intentional about teaching students, that we’re intentional about what they learn, that we’re concerned about the outcomes,” said Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham.

Alabama students are already not allowed to have their phones out in public school classrooms. The FOCUS Act took effect last school year, and required local boards of education to adopt policies that ban cell phones during school hours.

Now, public schools could reevaluate the technology that they are bringing to students in the classroom.

“Where do we want Alabama to go? What do we want it to look like in this new digital, technology age and how does it relate to the quality of education and impact on our children?” asked Sen. Coleman-Madison.

The commission has a deadline of Dec. 1 to give their findings and recommendations.

Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!