Well.

In 2025, the Kentucky General Assembly passed a bill that required school districts to adopt a policy restricting the use of students personal devices like cell phones during the school day.

But that didn't address technology used for instruction like Chromebooks and iPads.

Researchers say since incorporating online learning methods, standardized test scores in Kentucky have steadily declined.

And school administrators say kids are lacking in social interaction.

Well, one school district in northeast Kentucky is making a change ahead of the new school year, restricting the amount of instructional screen time.

Our Emily Prince takes us to Fleming County to learn more in tonight's education report.

Back in May, leaders at Simmons Middle School in Fleming County decided it was time to reduce the amount of technology students were using during the school day.

Now, the entire district has adopted that policy with screen time limits of 45 minutes a day for elementary school students.

60 minutes for middle schoolers and 90 minutes for high school students.

We could definitely tell that kids, especially at the end of the year, were really not engaged in their learning because they were really focused on everything on their computer screen.

And sometimes, no matter how much you monitor it, they still have figured out ways to circumvent all the things that are supposed to be a protection for them.

And they are doing anything and everything, but they're not doing what we asked.

Simmons Middle School principal Doctor Whitney Shannon Wilson said her teachers were some of the first to question what it would look like to scale back tech use in the classroom.

Her response?

Let's give it a shot.

It was very much like kind of just rip the Band-Aid off moment and let's try it.

But the Fleming County Schools superintendent said it wasn't just the teachers who were ready for a change.

A lot of times over the past year, students have said, we're looking at Chromebooks too much.

Chromebooks and iPads became commonplace in many Kentucky school districts during the height of the Covid 19 pandemic, when students were learning remotely.

But Fleming County's superintendent believes online learning methods went a bit overboard.

You can make real world learning without a computer, and that's one of the things that we're really pushing that, you know, this is a great opportunity to almost reset.

Chrisman said the school board voted unanimously on the screen limit policy, and he has yet to hear any negative feedback.

Teachers at Simons Middle are meeting before the school year kicks off to determine what changes they need to make to adapt to the new policy.

I'm excited.

I'm really excited about it.

I know our students are excited.

It's a welcome.

Yes, we're ready for this change, but we all have to work on what does that look like?

How can parents still be supportive at home without them instantly going to an online source?

And even though some screen time is allowed, Principal Wilson has been sharing this message with her teachers.

There's a way to use technology with balance, but please do not use it for just routine things.

It needs to be intentionally playing.

And my message to them has been pretty much if you don't need it and you don't have to use it, don't use it.

Superintendent Chrisman said he recognizes, especially for older students, that technology is necessary for some subjects.

A lot of these programs, for instance, like computer programing, they're looking at a screen.

It's hard not to look at a screen.

So we don't want to limit that.

But also we have a lot of students in online dual enrollment classes.

We obviously we really want to push that.

We don't want to limit that in any way.

While the superintendent said this first year will be a learning experience for everyone in the school system, he believes it will lead to more well-rounded students.

We really need them just to engage.

But also this is a chance to say, you know, like kids, we kids.

Teachers at Simons Middle said they're looking forward to collaborating with one another and seeing their students put pencil to paper.

In Fleming County for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily Prince.

Superintendent Chrisman said the new screen time limits are not only for instruction taught during the school day, but for homework as well.

Opening day for Fleming County Schools is August 25th.