WJCC Schools reviews student screen time and technology – Daily Press
WJCC Schools reviews student screen time and technology – Daily Press
https://www.dailypress.com/2026/06/06/wjcc-schools-reviews-student-screen-time-and-technology/
Publish Date: 2026-06-06 07:01:00
Source Domain: www.dailypress.com
The Williamsburg-James City County school system wants to continue using technology to help prepare students for today’s digital-based world, but also is intent on making sure it’s used appropriately.
Staff discussed student screen time and how students are using digital tools to enhance learning during the school board’s Tuesday work session.
Superintendent Daniel Keever presented initiatives ranging from continuing to use the internet responsibly to creating a focus group. Continuing to provide children with physical activity opportunities throughout the day was also a goal, noting elementary students specifically.
Keever said preparing students to be life ready requires them developing the ability to research, collaborate and learn to navigate in an increasingly digital world.
“As technology becomes increasingly prevalent in students’ lives, helping them become responsible, ethical and informed digital citizens is an essential part of our work,” he said.
Following this year’s General Assembly session, school divisions will be required to provide instruction on the addictive potential of screen time beginning July 1.
As part of the WJCC Schools’ study, the division used software to track student screen time usage during the month of March. More than 10,500 student devices were analyzed to showcase their daily school browser activities, said Kristin Barr, the school division’s instructional technology supervisor.
For kindergarteners and first graders, in-school usage averaged around 27 to 28 minutes. Across all elementary levels, usage averaged less than 90 minutes, increasing as students progressed grade levels, said Barr. Middle and high school student screen usage was consistent across grades, not averaging past two hours per day.
The most visited website across kindergarten to 12th grade was Canvas, an online platform used to help students and teachers keep their digital resources organized. Teachers also use a platform called IXL…
