Kayla Spence of CEC District 30 testifies on need for mandates not recommendations
Kayla Spence of CEC District 30 calls for mandates rather than recommendations, criticizes the policy's many carve-outs, questions parent representation in the technology coalition, and urges buying books and hiring librarians instead of ed tech.
Hi, thank you so much.
My name is Kayla Spence, and I am a parent and a member of Community Education Council for District 30.
I have to ask, what is the spirit of this policy?
Because if we say that there's a limit, and then there's carve-outs for assessments and homework, screeners, instructional programs, and we go on and on, what's the point of a limit?
At what point does the exception become the rule?
CECs like mine across New York City have called for a mandate, not recommendations.
We want clear protections and meaningful limits that every child can count on.
Instead, this guidance was released just days before school started without a clear implementation plan.
Principals, teachers, superintendents, and families have more questions than answers.
What counts towards a limit?
What doesn't?
Who's enforcing it?
What happens when a school doesn't follow it?
And more importantly, where are parents in this process?
If New York City Public Schools is building a coalition around technology and screen time, CECs and parent leaders need to be meaningfully represented at the table.
How many parents are in this coalition?
How many classroom teachers?
How were they selected?
These decisions affect our children every day, and parents should not be brought in after the fact.
As a parent, I also want to know what programs and platforms my child's using, why they're using them, and how long they're using them.
If there is a reasonable on-screen time alternative, why can't I opt out of a routine one-to-one device use?
The amount of money being spent on educational technology, products, platforms, and device is mind-boggling.
Who's asking for all of this?
When I was a kid, I had books.
We wrote on paper.
We covered our textbooks with brown paper bags.
We went outside for recess and we played.
We learned from our teachers.
Why can't my kid be a kid?
I'm not anti-technology, but technology should be a tool and not the default.
We have limited education dollars.
Buy books.
Hire librarians.
Invest in teachers and classrooms.
Our children deserve clear protections, not vague recommendations and endless exceptions.
Please give us a policy that can be enforced.
Please include parents in the process.
Time expired.
Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony.
Next up is Larissa May.
You may begin.