K–12 Technology & Literacy Policy
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State profile · CA

California

Reviewed policies, grades and school implementation dates. District examples cover 3 distinct districts; it is not a statewide implementation survey.

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Detailed device brief

Rules for use: affected grades and timing

Personal devices · statewide finding

Elementary
Local policy required
Middle
Local policy required
High
Local policy required

Districts, county offices and charter schools must limit or prohibit smartphone use; local policy determines the restriction.

Policy deadline July 1, 2026; review at least every five years.

Exceptions & source ↗

School devices, screen time and student AI

Los Angeles Unified School District · Current

Board-approved student screen-time policy

Grades: All grades; age-specific guardrails · Requirement: Required

Requires purposeful district-device use and blocks student-led YouTube, streaming, social media and unapproved games. Screen and device limits roll out by grade; see the linked implementation actions.

Starts / rollout: Early education–grade 1 starts August 2026; grades 2–5 November 2026; grades 6–12 January 2027. These are policy rollout dates, not a uniform current limit.

Adoption, exceptions & funding evidence ↗

San Diego Unified · Current

Learner-Centered Technology Use Resolution

Grades: TK device carts; student Chromebooks; further all-grade review · Requirement: Required

Removed computer carts from TK classrooms and restricts student-device video streaming, with educator-enabled instructional access.

Starts / rollout: Resolution adopted June 23; first phase completed by August 10, 2026. Further grade-level guidance remains in development.

Adoption, exceptions & funding evidence ↗

Beverly Hills Unified · Current

Board Policy 6163.47 · Intentional technology use

Grades: TK–2 restrictions; learning progression through grade 12 · Requirement: Required

No assigned 1:1 devices in TK–2; use limited to required assessments, teacher-led activities and legally required accommodations.

Starts / rollout: July 15, 2026 announcement confirms approval; exact adoption/effective day not separately verified. March preparatory resolution is not counted again.

Adoption, exceptions & funding evidence ↗

Statewide · Upcoming

SB 1128 · School-issued electronic devices

Grades: Transitional kindergarten and kindergarten take-home devices · Requirement: Required

Prevents local education agencies from requiring TK and kindergarten students to take home school-issued electronic devices from 2027–28.

Starts / rollout: The take-home-device requirement starts in the 2027–28 school year, according to the Senate’s post-enactment summary. The separate legal effective day is not verified here.

Adoption, exceptions & funding evidence ↗

Los Angeles Unified School District · Current

Student screen-time and device guidance — Early education through grade 1

Grades: Early education through grade 1 · Requirement: Required

Defaults to no individual 1:1 school device and no take-home device in early education–grade 1. Assessments, IEP requirements, virtual programs and parent opt-in conditions are identified.

Starts / rollout: Starts August 2026. Limits include homework; consult district guidance for instructional exemptions and opt-in/opt-out conditions.

Adoption, exceptions & funding evidence ↗

Los Angeles Unified School District · Upcoming

Student screen-time and device guidance — Grades 2–3

Grades: Grades 2–3 · Requirement: Guidance / support

Published screen-time guidance for grades 2–3 sets 0–20 minutes daily or 0–100 minutes weekly, including homework, subject to instructional exemptions.

Starts / rollout: Starts November 2026. Limits include homework; consult district guidance for instructional exemptions and opt-in/opt-out conditions.

Adoption, exceptions & funding evidence ↗

Los Angeles Unified School District · Upcoming

Student screen-time and device guidance — Grades 4–5

Grades: Grades 4–5 · Requirement: Guidance / support

Published screen-time guidance for grades 4–5 sets 0–30 minutes daily or 0–150 minutes weekly, including homework, subject to instructional exemptions.

Starts / rollout: Starts November 2026. Limits include homework; consult district guidance for instructional exemptions and opt-in/opt-out conditions.

Adoption, exceptions & funding evidence ↗

Los Angeles Unified School District · Upcoming

Student screen-time and device guidance — Grades 6–8

Grades: Grades 6–8 · Requirement: Guidance / support

Published screen-time guidance for grades 6–8 sets 0–60 minutes per course weekly, with a 400-minute weekly maximum including homework, subject to instructional exemptions.

Starts / rollout: Starts January 2027. Limits include homework; consult district guidance for instructional exemptions and opt-in/opt-out conditions.

Adoption, exceptions & funding evidence ↗

Los Angeles Unified School District · Upcoming

Student screen-time and device guidance — Grades 9–12

Grades: Grades 9–12 · Requirement: Guidance / support

Published screen-time guidance for grades 9–12 sets 0–90 minutes per course weekly, with a 600-minute weekly maximum including homework, subject to instructional exemptions.

Starts / rollout: Starts January 2027. Limits include homework; consult district guidance for instructional exemptions and opt-in/opt-out conditions.

Adoption, exceptions & funding evidence ↗

Learning & relevant rules for use

What changes by age?

Compare this state

Elementary

Computer science

Current · Published standards

California adopted K–12 CS standards and publishes a grade-band progression. This source establishes standards; it does not establish that every student receives a CS course.

Standards adopted September 6, 2018.

Source & dates

AI literacy

Current · Standards development required

Requires California's Instructional Quality Commission to consider AI-literacy content when specified mathematics, science and history-social science curriculum frameworks are next revised.

IQC must consider AI literacy during the next relevant framework and materials revisions; no universal student-course deadline is established.

Source & dates

Relevant rules for use

Personal devices: Local policy required

Policy deadline July 1, 2026; review at least every five years.

Device scope, exceptions & source

Middle

Computer science

Current · Published standards

California adopted K–12 CS standards and publishes a grade-band progression. This source establishes standards; it does not establish that every student receives a CS course.

Standards adopted September 6, 2018.

Source & dates

AI literacy

Current · Standards development required

Requires California's Instructional Quality Commission to consider AI-literacy content when specified mathematics, science and history-social science curriculum frameworks are next revised.

IQC must consider AI literacy during the next relevant framework and materials revisions; no universal student-course deadline is established.

Source & dates

Relevant rules for use

Personal devices: Local policy required

Policy deadline July 1, 2026; review at least every five years.

Device scope, exceptions & source

High

Computer science

Current · Published standards

California adopted K–12 CS standards and publishes a grade-band progression. This source establishes standards; it does not establish that every student receives a CS course.

Standards adopted September 6, 2018.

Source & dates

AI literacy

Current · Standards development required

Requires California's Instructional Quality Commission to consider AI-literacy content when specified mathematics, science and history-social science curriculum frameworks are next revised.

IQC must consider AI literacy during the next relevant framework and materials revisions; no universal student-course deadline is established.

Source & dates

Relevant rules for use

Personal devices: Local policy required

Policy deadline July 1, 2026; review at least every five years.

Device scope, exceptions & source

Teacher capacity, funding & delivery

No reviewed support program is listed here yet. Individual policy details include any documented funding or training provision.

Questions for a district curriculum meeting
  1. Which students receive instruction, in which grades and subjects, and for how much time?
  2. What sequence connects computing concepts, data, AI understanding and digital judgment?
  3. Who teaches it, and what training, preparation time and accessible materials do they receive?
  4. Which documented funding or services can support delivery, and what remains a local budget decision?
  5. What student work demonstrates understanding? Check who participates and who is missing.

These are Stewart Brown’s planning questions, not additional legal requirements.

Reviewed policy findings, district examples & history (15 records)

Restrictions

Current evidence indexed

1 action in this collection

Governance

Evidence gap

No current statewide record indexed. Research remains open.

Learning

Current evidence indexed

3 actions in this collection

Current statewide policies

California· State / DCCurrent

Phone-Free School Act (AB 3216)

Districts, county offices and charter schools must limit or prohibit smartphone use; local policy determines the restriction.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 3, 2026

Personal devices
Requirement
Required with local discretion
Grades
All K-12
Learning evidence
No student-learning claim
Adopted / approved
Sep 23, 2024
School implementation
Policy deadline July 1, 2026; review at least every five years.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗
California· State / DCCurrent

AB 873

AB 873 requires IQC to consider library standards and media-literacy guidance during revisions to specified curriculum frameworks.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 4, 2026

Media literacy
Requirement
Required with local discretion
Grades
Each grade level when frameworks are revised
Learning evidence
Standards development required
School implementation
Applies to the next relevant curriculum-framework revisions; not a separate universal media-literacy course.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗
California· State / DCCurrent

AB 2876

Requires California's Instructional Quality Commission to consider AI-literacy content when specified mathematics, science and history-social science curriculum frameworks are next revised.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 4, 2026

AI literacy
Requirement
Required with local discretion
Grades
When specified frameworks are revised
Learning evidence
Standards development required
School implementation
IQC must consider AI literacy during the next relevant framework and materials revisions; no universal student-course deadline is established.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗
California· State / DCCurrent

California K–12 computer science standards

California adopted K–12 CS standards and publishes a grade-band progression. This source establishes standards; it does not establish that every student receives a CS course.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 3, 2026

Computer science
Requirement
Recommended
Grades
All K-12
Learning evidence
Published standards
Adopted / approved
Sep 6, 2018
School implementation
Standards adopted September 6, 2018.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗

Upcoming requirements

California· State / DCUpcoming

SB 1128 · School-issued electronic devices

Prevents local education agencies from requiring TK and kindergarten students to take home school-issued electronic devices from 2027–28.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 4, 2026

School-issued devices
Requirement
Required
Grades
Transitional kindergarten and kindergarten take-home devices
Learning evidence
No student-learning claim
Adopted / approved
Sep 10, 2026
School implementation
The take-home-device requirement starts in the 2027–28 school year, according to the Senate’s post-enactment summary. The separate legal effective day is not verified here.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗

Proposals under consideration

No records in this section have been published. This is an evidence gap in the collection, not a determination that no relevant action exists.

Selected district examples

Los Angeles Unified School District· DistrictCurrent

Board-approved student screen-time policy

Requires purposeful district-device use and blocks student-led YouTube, streaming, social media and unapproved games. Screen and device limits roll out by grade; see the linked implementation actions.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 4, 2026

Screen timeSchool-issued devicesSocial media / network
Requirement
Required
Grades
All grades; age-specific guardrails
Learning evidence
No student-learning claim
Adopted / approved
Jun 23, 2026
School implementation
Early education–grade 1 starts August 2026; grades 2–5 November 2026; grades 6–12 January 2027. These are policy rollout dates, not a uniform current limit.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗
San Diego Unified· DistrictCurrent

Learner-Centered Technology Use Resolution

Removed computer carts from TK classrooms and restricts student-device video streaming, with educator-enabled instructional access.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 4, 2026

Screen timeSchool-issued devices
Requirement
Required
Grades
TK device carts; student Chromebooks; further all-grade review
Learning evidence
No student-learning claim
Adopted / approved
Jun 23, 2026
School implementation
Resolution adopted June 23; first phase completed by August 10, 2026. Further grade-level guidance remains in development.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗
Beverly Hills Unified· DistrictCurrent

Board Policy 6163.47 · Intentional technology use

No assigned 1:1 devices in TK–2; use limited to required assessments, teacher-led activities and legally required accommodations.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 4, 2026

Screen timeSchool-issued devices
Requirement
Required
Grades
TK–2 restrictions; learning progression through grade 12
Learning evidence
No student-learning claim
School implementation
July 15, 2026 announcement confirms approval; exact adoption/effective day not separately verified. March preparatory resolution is not counted again.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗
Beverly Hills Unified· DistrictCurrent

Board Policy 6163.47 · Intentional technology use — learning provision

The approved district framework includes coding, robotics and AI fundamentals in grades 3–5 and annual AI-literacy instruction in grades 6–8.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 4, 2026

AI literacyComputer science
Requirement
Required
Grades
Grades 3–5 foundations; grades 6–8 annual AI literacy
Learning evidence
Student instruction required
School implementation
July 15, 2026 announcement confirms approval; exact adoption/effective day not separately verified. March preparatory resolution is not counted again.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗
Los Angeles Unified School District· DistrictCurrent

Student screen-time and device guidance — Early education through grade 1

Defaults to no individual 1:1 school device and no take-home device in early education–grade 1. Assessments, IEP requirements, virtual programs and parent opt-in conditions are identified.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 4, 2026

School-issued devicesScreen time
Requirement
Required
Grades
Early education through grade 1
Learning evidence
No student-learning claim
Adopted / approved
Jun 23, 2026
School implementation
Starts August 2026. Limits include homework; consult district guidance for instructional exemptions and opt-in/opt-out conditions.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗
Los Angeles Unified School District· DistrictUpcoming

Student screen-time and device guidance — Grades 2–3

Published screen-time guidance for grades 2–3 sets 0–20 minutes daily or 0–100 minutes weekly, including homework, subject to instructional exemptions.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 4, 2026

Screen time
Requirement
Guidance / support
Grades
Grades 2–3
Learning evidence
No student-learning claim
Adopted / approved
Jun 23, 2026
School implementation
Starts November 2026. Limits include homework; consult district guidance for instructional exemptions and opt-in/opt-out conditions.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗
Los Angeles Unified School District· DistrictUpcoming

Student screen-time and device guidance — Grades 4–5

Published screen-time guidance for grades 4–5 sets 0–30 minutes daily or 0–150 minutes weekly, including homework, subject to instructional exemptions.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 4, 2026

Screen time
Requirement
Guidance / support
Grades
Grades 4–5
Learning evidence
No student-learning claim
Adopted / approved
Jun 23, 2026
School implementation
Starts November 2026. Limits include homework; consult district guidance for instructional exemptions and opt-in/opt-out conditions.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗
Los Angeles Unified School District· DistrictUpcoming

Student screen-time and device guidance — Grades 6–8

Published screen-time guidance for grades 6–8 sets 0–60 minutes per course weekly, with a 400-minute weekly maximum including homework, subject to instructional exemptions.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 4, 2026

Screen time
Requirement
Guidance / support
Grades
Grades 6–8
Learning evidence
No student-learning claim
Adopted / approved
Jun 23, 2026
School implementation
Starts January 2027. Limits include homework; consult district guidance for instructional exemptions and opt-in/opt-out conditions.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗
Los Angeles Unified School District· DistrictUpcoming

Student screen-time and device guidance — Grades 9–12

Published screen-time guidance for grades 9–12 sets 0–90 minutes per course weekly, with a 600-minute weekly maximum including homework, subject to instructional exemptions.

Reviewed against official sources · Oct 4, 2026

Screen time
Requirement
Guidance / support
Grades
Grades 9–12
Learning evidence
No student-learning claim
Adopted / approved
Jun 23, 2026
School implementation
Starts January 2027. Limits include homework; consult district guidance for instructional exemptions and opt-in/opt-out conditions.
Evidence & dates Primary source ↗

Historical records

No records in this section have been published. This is an evidence gap in the collection, not a determination that no relevant action exists.

Evidence coverage & remaining research

Consistent 16-dimension checklist

Coverage & remaining research

Inventory reviewed October 3, 2026. 8/16 dimensions have published evidence of any status. Every dimension remains open to additional sources and superseding actions.

DimensionCurrent statewide evidenceOther published evidence
Personal devices1 linked action0 current district actions · 0 future, proposed, or historical
School-issued devicesNot yet established4 current district actions · 1 future, proposed, or historical
Screen timeNot yet established4 current district actions · 4 future, proposed, or historical
Student AINot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Staff AINot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
AI governanceNot yet established1 current district action · 0 future, proposed, or historical
Social media / networkNot yet established1 current district action · 0 future, proposed, or historical
Privacy / cybersecurityNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
AI literacy1 linked action1 current district action · 0 future, proposed, or historical
Computer science1 linked action1 current district action · 0 future, proposed, or historical
Digital literacyNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Media literacy1 linked action0 current district actions · 0 future, proposed, or historical
Digital citizenshipNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Cybersecurity literacyNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Data literacyNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Social-media literacyNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion

Next checks: official state statutes and agency updates, grade-specific learning standards, superseding rules, and a broader district sample. Contribute a primary source.