Two-thirds of parents want less screen time; the device rule dates from 2012

What happened

In the district's June 2026 community survey, more than two-thirds of 1,155 parent respondents said they want less screen time in the classroom, and staff responses raised concerns about cheating with artificial intelligence. Ridgewood's rule on student devices, Policy 2363, was adopted on September 10, 2012 and leaves phone and device use to each teacher's permission. The district has no published artificial-intelligence policy, and its acceptable-use policy does not mention AI. In March 2026 a parent told the board there is no consistent grade-level Chromebook policy, that a request for usage data was refused, and that students defeated new YouTube restrictions within hours.

Why it matters to families

Screens and AI now shape ordinary homework and testing, and parents are being asked to sign a Chromebook agreement each year without a published rule on how much the device is used or how to opt out. The district's own survey and staff feedback say the current arrangement is not working, and the governing policy predates smartphones in most classrooms.

The evidence

The 2026 State of the Schools address reports the survey finding that over two-thirds of respondents want less classroom screen time, gives the 1,155 parent response count, and lists AI cheating among staff concerns. Policy 2363 and its regulation carry an adoption date of September 10 2012 and make device use conditional on teacher approval. The March 23, 2026 minutes record the parent's detailed request for a grade-level Chromebook policy, published usage data and a non-punitive opt-out.

The source