HM 2 — STUDY SCREEN USE IN ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS

HOUSE MEMORIAL 2 57 TH LEGISLATURE- STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2026 INTRODUCED BY Joy Garratt 6 8 10 A MEMORIAL REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE USE OF SCREEN TIME FOR INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOMS AND REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR SCREEN USE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOMS.

e8 t 17 WHEREAS, research shows that excessive screen time for w l n d 18 young children is associated with higher levels of stress, = = 19 a l sleep disruption, decreased attention span and negative impacts i a e r 20 on social-emotional development;

and a t m m 21 WHEREAS, professional organizations such as the American d r e 22 academy of pediatrics recommend limited and developmentally c e s k 23 appropriate use of digital devices for young children;

and e a n b 24 u [ WHEREAS, in many public schools, especially those facing staffing shortages, screens are increasingly used for tasks .232810.1 that once involved hands-on learning, exploratory play and direct interaction with educators and peers;

and WHEREAS, families and educators have raised concerns about the amount of time elementary students spend on HM 2 Page 1 tablets, laptops and online programs for tasks that could be achieved through more developmentally appropriate, hands-on methods;

and WHEREAS, limiting unnecessary screen time aligns with the e t 17 goals of many school districts to improve student well-being, w l n d 18 increase engagement and support healthier classroom = = 19 a l communities;

and i a e r 20 WHEREAS, elementary students are assessed using computer-computer-based a t m m 21 based testing several times per year, and mandated computerized d r e 22 tutoring sessions associated with the assessments are also c e s k 23 required, which adds to students' screen time;

and e a n b 24 WHEREAS, as required by the court decision in the u [ Martinez/Yazzie lawsuit, the state must determine whether .232810.1 - 2 - required computer-based tests are culturally and linguistically responsive and appropriate procedures given the specific cultural and linguistic characteristics of the children being assessed;

and WHEREAS, as required by the court decision in the Martinez/Yazzie lawsuit, the state must delineate the specific accessibility features of computer-based testing to HM 2 Page 2 determine what specific accommodations may still be needed by students with disabilities as well as to determine whether a computer-computer-based based test may create new accessibility issues;

e t 17 and w l n d 18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education = = 19 a l department be requested to collaborate with families, educators i a e r 20 and administrators to establish developmentally appropriate a t m m 21 guidelines for daily screen use in elementary classrooms;

and d r e 22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education c e s k 23 department be requested to ensure that any required technology e a n b 24 use in elementary school classrooms is purposeful, evidence-evidence-based, u [ based, equitable and supportive of healthy child development;

.232810.1 - 3 - and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the legislative education study committee and the public education department for appropriate distribution.

-HM 42 -Page 73 925 11 13 15 e t 17 w l n d 18 = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .232810.1