Gov. Abbott Proposes Screen Time Limits for Texas Schools - govtech.com

Abbott didn't lay out specific rules. He said technology in classrooms should stick to particular lessons and assessments, not replace teachers or other proven ways of learning. The comment came a year after Texas lawmakers passed a statewide ban on cellphones in schools, a policy already reshaping how students spend their days from bell to bell.

Some districts aren't waiting on the state to act further. Dallas ISD rolled out new guidelines this month that limit screen time based on grade level, part of a broader trend of Texas districts writing their own restrictions rather than waiting for Austin.

For families here, the push matters because it signals where state policy could be headed next. If Abbott's proposal turns into actual legislation or a state mandate, local districts could be told how much classroom tech is too much, on top of decisions they're already making themselves. Teachers who've leaned on tablets and apps for daily instruction could see new limits on what counts as legitimate classroom use.

A governor running for reelection is now weighing in on how many minutes a kid should spend looking at a screen instead of a chalkboard.