December 3, 2024, Boston, MA—The National Parents Union celebrates the Department of Education’s playbook released today. Planning Together, a playbook for student personal device policies, captures the extensive and honest feedback families provided to schools and policymakers this year to move toward action that is responsive to the needs of children, parents and guardians, and local communities in a hyper digital world.
This new approach prioritizes students’ focus and learning during critical instructional time – while also acknowledging the real and valid concerns that parents have about maintaining lines of communication with their children and contact during emergency situations.
While this guidance is helpful, there is still more work to be done to protect our nation’s children from the harms of social media. Right now, Congress should act to pass the Kids Online Safety Act before they break for the holidays – a move that will help to address the real consequences of excessive social media use. This vital legislation will provide parents, educators, and policymakers with the tools to protect children from the harmful effects of social media and ensure that their online experiences align with their educational and emotional development.
We commend Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and his staff for addressing this issue head-on and recognizing the need for schools to create environments that foster both academic success and mental well-being. By acknowledging the importance of digital literacy and setting clear guidelines for technology use, Secretary Cardona is helping schools better support students in navigating the complex digital landscape of today’s world.
Together, we can ensure that our children thrive both in the classroom and online—free from the negative impacts of unchecked digital influence.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARENTS UNION
With more than 1,800 affiliated parent organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, the National Parents Union is the united, independent voice of modern American families. We channel the power of parents into powerful policies that improve the lives of children, families and communities across the United States. https://nationalparentsunion.org/