What the evidence shows

What happened to test scores after schools moved toward 1 to 1 devices?

When states moved to digital, test scores worsened. This came after a period of steady national gains, and the drop in test scores coincides directly with national technology adoption trends, not COVID. When statewide digital testing and instruction is mapped against results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) or "the Nation's Report Card," a striking pattern emerges:

• NAEP reading and math scores declined by 1 to 2 points per year after statewide digital adoption;
• Declines are steeper in 8th grade than 4th grade, consistent with heavier digital exposure;
• Declines began before the pandemic and align with digital adoption, not lockdown timing; and
• The same dose-response pattern (more exposure, worse outcomes) occurs globally, and is repeated across international assessments including PISA, TIMSS and PIRLS.

Source: Jared Cooney Horvath, NAEP analysis behind U.S. Senate testimony, 2026

What effect does AI reliance have on cognition?

Research finds a strong positive correlation between heavy AI tool use and "cognitive offloading," or outsourcing critical thinking to the device, with younger heavy users scoring lower on critical thinking than older ones who grew up without it.

In an MIT study, students who wrote essays with ChatGPT showed weaker brain connectivity in regions tied to memory and creativity, produced lower-quality, less original essays, and accumulated what researchers called "cognitive debt."

In the Brookings Institution's sweeping 50-country study of AI in education, the threat to students' cognitive development was the single most cited harm, representing 57% of all responses about AI risks, and 65% of student responses.

A University of Southern California survey of 1,000 U.S. college students found most use AI for "executive help" (getting quick answers) rather than "instrumental help" (deepening understanding) unless instructors actively guide them toward learning-oriented use.

Sources: Gerlich, 2025; Kosmyna et al., MIT, 2025; Brookings Institution, 2026; USC Center for Generative AI and Society, 2025

What about AI "companion" chatbots and kids?

1 in 3 teens use AI chatbot platforms for social interaction and relationships

Romantic roleplay is three times as common as homework help on companion platforms

The American Psychological Association has issued a health advisory on AI and adolescents, noting that teens are especially vulnerable to these virtual relationships. NYSUT and AFT have called for a ban on companion chatbots for children under 16.

Sources: Common Sense Media and Aura studies reported by NPR, 2025; U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing, September 2025

Why do handwriting, paper and hands-on learning still matter?

Neuroimaging research shows that handwriting activates a far broader network of brain regions than typing. Handwriting engages motor, sensory, language and memory systems, while typing engages far fewer systems and results in only passive cognitive engagement.

Handwriting supports letter recognition, spelling, reading fluency and memory retention, particularly for young children; the neural pathways used in handwriting overlap significantly with those used in reading.

Reading comprehension of complex texts is consistently weaker on screens than on paper, and researchers warn that habitual screen reading fosters shallow reading habits that carry over to print.

Countries that pioneered classroom digitization are now reversing course: Sweden is returning to printed textbooks. Estonia is emphasizing human interaction after research linked young children's screen time to diminished language skills. Italy has renewed its emphasis on handwriting and paper materials.

Sources: Marano et al., Life, 2025; OECD/PISA analyses; AFT, 2026

What are parents saying?

Across the country, parents are standing up to defend children against big tech.

7 in 10 parents oppose schools using AI to store and analyze student data

Los Angeles parents formed Schools Beyond Screens, a coalition that quickly became national and now boasts chapters in cities and towns across the U.S.

More than 760 families petitioned to preserve device opt-out rights in Pennsylvania’s Lower Merion district

Disconnect to Reconnect, a coalition of non-profits in Westchester County was formed to reduce excessive screentime

NYC parents were a fundamental part of a one-year moratorium on generative AI for students in 2-K through 8

of educators say most parents feel there is too much technology in schools

Yet most districts have not changed course:

74% of educators say their district has not reduced its investment in educational technology despite parent concerns.

Sources: EdWeek Research Center surveys, 2026; PDK poll, 2025; Wall Street Journal and Associated Press reporting, 2026

What happens when schools go distraction-free?
New York's first year:

New York's bell-to-bell law took effect in September 2025, making it the largest state in the nation with a comprehensive distraction-free schools policy. At the close of the first phone-free school year, a statewide survey of nearly 600 educators found:

80% said the phonefree policy has delivered positive results for their school

76% reported improved classroom behavior, and 76% said student engagement increased

75% said their ability to teach effectively improved

80% saw student social connections improve, and 60% reported declines in bullying and cyberbullying

New York districts that went distraction-free ahead of the law — including Schoharie, Bethlehem, Poughkeepsie, Gloversville and Brighton — report the same story:

• transformed school climates
• lively hallways
• fewer discipline issues

More than 30 states now restrict cellphones during the school day.

Sources: NYS Governor’s Office end-of-year educator survey, June 2026; NYSUT Bell-to-Bell Toolkit, 2025

Where is EdTech policy headed?

At least 14 states have proposed legislation to limit screen time in schools; so far, Alabama, Tennessee, Utah and Iowa have passed screen time laws. Utah’s law limits “nonessential” screen time and prohibits using AI for grading or “essential decisions” about students. This year, the nation's two largest school districts both moved to rein in classroom technology. The Los Angeles Unified School District banned screens in the earliest grades, capped daily screen time by grade, banned YouTube and began auditing all education technology contracts. New York City enacted the broadest student-facing generative AI moratorium in the country. The U.S. Surgeon General has issued an advisory on the impact of screen use on children and adolescents’ health, development, attention and mental health. The federal government has so far failed to create a regulatory framework for AI in schools, which is why educators, states and school communities are stepping up.

Sources: Associated Press and Education Week reporting, 2026; U.S. Surgeon General advisory, 2026