How has heavy reliance on digital learning since COVID affected SMFCSD students?

Since the pandemic, digital platforms and 1:1 devices have become embedded in everyday instruction — often displacing teacher-led and hands-on learning.

We're concerned parents hoping to work alongside district leaders to make sure technology is used thoughtfully, with an honest look at what we're getting in return for the instructional time, student data, and taxpayer dollars invested.

Sign the petition Explore 10 years of school data

Are school-issued Chromebooks helping students learn?

Student voices

"It's too tempting not to use AI if it's right there."

"Everyone knows how to bypass GoGuardian."

"It's distracting when other kids are going online or playing games in class and I'm still doing work."

Teacher voices

Elementary school

"What was wrong with computer labs? Why can't we go back to that?"

"Why do elementary students need access to the internet?"

Middle school

"It's really hard for students to stay focused when they each have a laptop on their desk."

"The kids don't interact as much when they have the choice to use their devices."

Parent voices

Concern over students' reduced focus, patience, and willingness to work through difficult material.
School devices provide access to YouTube even when families restrict them at home.
Google Search's AI Mode is enabled on all student devices, TK–8 — rated "Unacceptable Risk" by Common Sense Media.
Families want transparency about student-data protection, opt-out information, student performance, and spending.

Six months of parent advocacy

Parents have voiced concerns at school board meetings since March, emailed and met with school and district leaders, submitted multiple public records requests, and engaged local and Bay Area press outlets.

Test scores have declined across nearly all groups.

Explore 10 years of school data

Homework completed

Progress made

Superintendent Ochoa announced no take-home Chromebooks for TK–2.
Superintendent Ochoa announced a district Technology Use Task Force.
Many classrooms are returning to paper, pencils, textbooks, and class discussion.
Some schools are restricting devices during lunch and recess.

Technology evolves much faster than policy

What SMFCSD still needs to do

Conduct an independent technology audit. Engage a qualified third party with no ties to EdTech vendors to evaluate district systems, spending, and usage patterns — not individual teachers. Start with the highest-cost, highest-risk tools, including YouTube and AI features, and make the findings public.
Adopt a lasting districtwide technology policy. Set clear limits on student technology use, strong privacy protections, and real oversight of district-approved platforms, while preserving teachers' flexibility within those guardrails. A child's access to balanced, age-appropriate instruction shouldn't depend on their school, classroom, or teacher. Read our full petition and policy recommendations

Questions parents should ask

If a public school is putting a technology or AI product in front of children, parents should be able to ask:

Does this technology actually improve student learning?
What measurable outcome are you expecting — reading proficiency, math achievement, writing ability, attendance, or another clearly defined outcome?
How and when will you evaluate it?
What happens if the results show it isn't working?

Why this matters: Parents and teachers raised concerns about Zearn long before the district changed course. In the meantime, many students were relying on it to build foundational math skills.

How you can help

PTAs

Share information about this work with your school community, while remaining neutral if preferred. Consider ways you can support more offline experiences in classrooms and schools.

Teachers

Your classroom experience is vital to this conversation. Share your perspective with us or through teacher surveys — anonymously if preferred. Consider involving your union representatives to help ensure teachers' voices are heard and protected.

Parents

District decisions affect every school. Share concerns and questions with district leaders and Board members, attend a Board meeting, or share the petition. Ask teachers what would help support more offline learning in your child's classroom.