Members of the Kansas State Board of Education during their August meeting will finalize the framework for the blue-ribbon task force charged with developing recommendations for K-12 students’ digital device use during and outside of school hours. 

During their July meeting, board members authorized Dr. Randy Watson, Kansas Education Commissioner, to form the working group charged with creating guidance for addressing several areas regarding the use of digital devices by K-12 Kansas students. 

“It’s going to take a concerted effort to address the amount of time our children spend on their own devices during instructional time,” said Melanie Haas, chair of the Kansas State Board of Education, in July when the board announced the task force. “We as parents and elected officials need to help our children use technology and social media in safer, more beneficial ways.” 

The 30-member task force is comprised of two state school board members, two legislators, two information technology professionals, local school board members, students, parents, classroom teachers, building administrators, and superintendents. 

Board members will receive the task force’s recommendations in November before voting on a non-binding policy or guidance in December. This research-based guidance to school districts is expected to provide parameters for the use of personal devices during school, the appropriate amount of screen time for children under the age of 18 and the use of school-issued devices outside of school.  

The task force will meet weekly during the next several months, beginning Aug. 22, via publicly available, live-streamed Zoom meetings on Thursdays. 

This initiative follows the recent U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory calling for “engaging in a multifaceted effort to maximize the benefits and reduce the risk of harm posed by social media with actions suggested for groups including children and adolescents, policymakers, technology companies, researchers, and families.” 

Other items or presentations board members will address or hear during their August meeting include: 

• Hear a presentation on the selection process a school district uses for high quality instructional materials (HQIM), part of an overall approach to instructional coherence. The use of HQIMs is a key component of the Kansas school improvement model board members approved in July. A Kansas school district will demonstrate a walk-through of their selection of HQIMs. 
• Receive a briefing on the selection of two superintendents, one from a rural district and one from an urban district, to serve on a legislative education funding task force which will also include a state board member. The board will act on task force appointments during its October meeting. 
• Hear the results of a survey measuring parents’ perception of postsecondary career opportunities. 
• Act on the Career and Technical Education (CTE) cluster reviews conducted during the 2023-24 school year. 
• Receive an update on All in for Kansas Kids, the state’s early childhood strategic plan. 
• Hear a presentation of the Kansans Can Recognition Award from the Child Nutrition and Wellness (CNW) team. 
• Hear a presentation from Paola’s Panther Robotics team and receive a demonstration of the team’s robot, “Bolts and Roses.” 

Click here for a full agenda and meeting materials for the meeting, August 13-14, 900 S.W. Jackson, in Topeka.