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- calendar_today October 20, 2026
Wake Schools Reevaluate Classroom Technology
The Wake County Public School System is reconsidering its technology strategy following concerns about device costs and the influence of screen time on student learning. The district is responding to feedback from parents, students, and teachers who have expressed differing views about student technology use in classrooms.
Screen Time Data Highlights Usage Patterns
Recent district analysis reveals that Wake County high school students spend an average of 39 minutes per school day on YouTube—the highest among all reviewed apps during the first month of the school year. The collected data also shows consistent use of Google tools and other academic applications across all grade levels.
Average daily in-school screen time climbs as students age: kindergarteners spend about 22 minutes, which rises to 53 minutes in third grade and peaks at around 95 minutes by sixth grade. This high usage remains steady until a slight decrease to 77 minutes in 12th grade.
Teacher Perspectives: Divided on Device Use
The district surveyed approximately 1,400 instructional staff, the majority of whom are classroom teachers, about student technology use. Results indicate that while middle and high school teachers are concerned about excessive technology use, opinions differ regarding the best solutions.
Teachers of younger students (kindergarten through elementary) largely feel the amount of device use is appropriate, while sixth through twelfth grade teachers are more likely to believe current usage is excessive. Most teachers in the upper grades think students may not actually need their own device, yet a majority feel that moving away from one-to-one device programs could hinder instruction. The balance between screen time and effective teaching remains a key concern.
Piloting Low-Tech Approaches and Policy Review
Spurred in part by interest from board members and cost concerns, the district is piloting a 'one device for every two students' program at Highcroft Drive Elementary, intentionally reducing device use. The success of this low tech pilot will be studied, with the aim of informing future decisions for other schools. The board plans to discuss these findings in upcoming sessions, with a panel scheduled for October 27 and further presentations on November 12 and December 1 addressing device purchasing and technology strategy.
Recent shifts away from one-to-one device programs reflect broader national trends. Many schools—Wake County included—have found the one-to-one model, made possible during the Covid-19 pandemic with federal funding, increasingly unsustainable. Most North Carolina schools lack the funds to maintain these programs long-term.
Student Voices and Technology Fatigue
Technology fatigue has emerged among some students as a notable issue. Divya Chinta, a freshman at Green Level High School, launched a petition this fall urging the district to adopt a low-tech policy to support learning and student well-being. She observes that non-digital, paper-based instruction helps her stay focused and better visualize lessons, contrasting with the distractions sometimes caused by classroom technology.
Other students, including Rohan Murthy from Highcroft Drive Elementary, echo these sentiments, suggesting that at younger grade levels, digital tools can be overly gamified and risk obscuring key learning elements. Both students acknowledge, however, that technology has valuable applications, such as supporting research or facilitating digital collaboration between peers.
Balancing Digital Learning and Student Engagement
Modern educational demands—including digital assessments and resources—make it challenging to move away from technology in classrooms entirely. A 2013 state law shifted North Carolina’s emphasis from print to digital textbooks, further embedding digital learning into daily instruction.
Experiments in other districts, such as Granville County Public Schools' two technology-free days per week, have also met with mixed reactions from students and staff. As Wake County schools navigate these complex issues, ongoing surveys and pilot programs will help shape future technology policy and efforts to optimize student engagement.
Source: wral.com.
