The Broward School District, which has prided itself as being a leader in using technology and artificial intelligence, could be directed by the School Board on Tuesday to rein in these efforts.
The School Board will consider a request by Chairwoman Sarah Leonardi to take three steps to help control the use of technology. The proposal would direct Superintendent Howard Hepburn to:
— Limit the screen time of pre-K through second grade students to “only what is necessary for state-mandated testing and/or accommodations for students with special needs.”
— Ensure that a proposed district policy on technology and artificial intelligence, slated for discussion on Aug. 4, includes “the maximum limitation on device and AI use” for all elementary school-level students.
— Ensure that software known as Linewize is implemented to catch any concerning student use of school devices, such as students wanting to harm themselves or others, and sent to the District Security Operations Center in real time for review.
Leonardi told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Monday that the proposal seeks “more responsible use of technology in our schools.”
“I think many of us have seen data that suggests that kids don’t need to be on screens for much of their school day. I had round tables with parents and students where I heard those concerns expressed,” Leonardi said.
One of the concerns she heard was how technology affects children’s eyesight, Leonardi said.
“I also heard from students, especially students with disabilities, that they use the technology, and it helps them a lot in school,” Leonardi said. “So I’m not trying to just get rid of all screens and all technology, but I think sometimes we can overuse it, and I’ve definitely heard that from students and parents.”
This will be the second month in a row the School Board will vote on a matter related to curbing technology use.
On June 23, School Board member Adam Cervera asked for a pause in the implementation of a program called MagicSchool AI until Hepburn’s staff provides a written report addressing concerns such as student privacy, program costs, and the effects on teaching, as well as student learning and social and mental health.
He also requested more teacher input and public hearings on the issue.
The School Board decided the pause was unnecessary because schools are closed for the summer but agreed to continue to review the matter.
Leonardi said many of the issues related to AI will be discussed during the Aug. 4 workshop on policies.
The proposed limits on technology and AI are a stark contrast the district’s enthusiasm over these issues for much of the past year.
The district announced in June 2025 that it was collaborating with Microsoft “in a landmark initiative to bring the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to every corner of the District,” a news release at the time said, adding that the district was conducting the largest adoption of the Microsoft Copilot platform in the world.
The district has used Copilot to help educators and administrators simplify tasks.
The program helps teachers develop automated lesson plans and instructional content. Facilities and operations departments have used the technology to come up with ways to become more efficient, officials said.
Then on March 10, the School Board agreed to purchase an AI teaching and learning program called Magic School, using a $1.2 million donation from Fort Lauderdale philanthropists Wayne and Lucretia Weiner.
The district turned that meeting into a major celebration, declaring March 10 “Broward Powered by AI Day.” Many district board members, staff and meeting attendees, including the Weiners, wore purple “Broward Powered by AI” shirts.
But in more recent meetings, parents, educators and school board members voiced concerns about everything from privacy concerns to AI’s social and mental health effects on students. Some voiced fears that students might use AI to cheat or to find answers without actually learning the material.
“I think that we can be pioneers in the use of AI in education,” Leonardi said Monday. “And if we are going to do that and be successful, we have to be as careful and responsible as possible. I don’t think those two things are mutually exclusive.”