At Richardson ISD, our North Star Goal is clear: Every student, teacher, and leader will meet or exceed their academic growth goal. Achieving that goal requires us to be intentional about every instructional tool we use—including technology.
As we prepare for the new school year, we want to share updates to our Technology with Purpose guidelines. Our approach is simple: students should be learning with technology, not from technology.
Technology is an important part of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and helps prepare students for college, careers, and life beyond graduation. However, technology is not a replacement for high-quality teaching. We know the most meaningful learning happens through strong relationships with teachers, engaging classroom discussions, hands-on experiences, and active student participation.
We have heard feedback from families and staff about the importance of creating a healthy balance between technology use and traditional instruction. In response, RISD is strengthening expectations for how technology is used in classrooms.
What matters most is how technology is used! Not all screen time is the same. RISD prioritizes productive screen time, where students are actively creating, collaborating, solving problems, researching, and engaging with learning. Passive screen time—such as primarily watching videos or presentations—will be limited based on age-appropriate daily recommendations.
| Grade Level | Max Passive Time | Recommended Format |
|---|---|---|
| PK-Kindergarten | 10-15 Minutes | Single Session |
| 1st-4th Grade | 15-20 Minutes | In Chunks |
| 5th-6th Grade | 20-30 Minutes | In Chunks |
| Secondary (7-12) | 15-20 Minutes | Per Class Period |
To support this balanced approach, RISD will:
- Clarify passive screen time recommendations by grade level.
- Extend YouTube restrictions to secondary campuses.
- Eliminate technology as a behavior incentive or default activity for indoor recess.
- Increase classroom monitoring and transparency using district-approved tools to help students stay focused during independent learning.
- Provide teachers with additional guidance and examples for integrating technology intentionally and effectively.
In RISD, we believe in learning beyond the screen. Technology is just one of many instructional tools. Richardson ISD remains committed to providing students with rich learning experiences that include:
- Hands-on, interactive learning
- Reading authentic books and literature
- Explicit and systematic phonics instruction
- Handwriting instruction
- Teacher-led instruction, discussion, and collaboration
These experiences are essential to developing strong academic foundations while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and meaningful connections in the classroom.
Technology continues to play an important role in preparing students for the future and helping students develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. When used intentionally, it supports the TEKS, aligns with the RISD Graduate Profile and Learner Growth Experience Framework, and helps students build digital citizenship and other real-world skills they will need beyond the classroom.
RISD firmly believes that technology enhances great teaching—it does not replace it. As we implement these updated guidelines, we will continue to monitor their effectiveness, evaluate implementation, and make adjustments as needed to ensure they best support teaching and learning. We are equally committed to a robust communication and professional learning plan that equips teachers, informs families, and supports the consistent, high-quality implementation of these expectations across every classroom.
We appreciate the continued partnership of our parents, staff, and community. Together, we will continue creating engaging, balanced learning environments where every student has the opportunity to thrive through meaningful instruction, hands-on experiences, and purposeful technology use.
Richardson ISD’s full instructional technology guidelines can be viewed here.
