As Fairfax County Public Schools officials develop a policy regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom, some parents worry the division is already too reliant on technology.
Several parents expressed concerns about technology use to the Fairfax County School Board during its meeting last Thursday (March 19).
Most of the comments were about the FCPSOn program, which provides a laptop or tablet to every student in FCPS down to kindergarten.
Jennifer Cheng, a member of FCPS Parents for Intentional Technology, said many parents don’t even know how widespread the use of digital technology is in the schools, especially for younger students, because it hasn’t been effectively communicated.
“Many only learned this from their children who told them that iPad time, not recess, was their favorite part of their day,” she said.
Alix Fetch said technology literacy is important in this day and age, but FCPS is too reliant on screen-based learning. She said it’s frequently used as a distraction for some kids, while teachers work in small groups or provide direct instruction to a particular student.
“Research does show children can learn from these digital programs, but research also is clear on something more important: children learn best from teachers, and these programs are most effective when an adult is actively engaging with the student and the content,” she said. “That is not how these programs are being used.”
Megan Durst said younger students should have computer labs or other controlled environments for technology use. The proliferation of technology is also creating problems at home, she said.
“The stimulation and reward loops built into these digital platforms create artificial dopamine spikes leaving kids dysregulated and teachers and families like us struggling to limit screen dependence and its consequences,” she said.
While screen time was the discussion of the day, some parents also discussed the under-development policy for AI, an umbrella term for technology that uses computer systems to handle complex tasks.
Benjamin Van Every said that the school system right now is allowing “policy-loose AI.”
“Our kids get one chance to be kids and one chance to get an education,” he said. “Let’s please be less cavalier with that opportunity.”
Marie Maroun criticized the school board for not conducting a robust community engagement process regarding device distribution or development of the AI policy. She said officials are “steamrolling over us.”
“You found the time to spend over two years on boundary discussions and even deliberate over naming a new school,” she said. “Yet when it comes to AI in our children’s classrooms — a decision of far greater consequence — there is no such patience for the community’s voice.”
Maroun said any plans regarding technology use should be paused until a technology committee is created with parent representation.
“We need concrete protections in place first, not weak aspirational language awaiting implementation,” she said. “Our children deserve better.”
The school board’s governance committee discussed a draft AI policy last week and hopes to have a final version ready for the full board’s approval by the end of this school year.
