Bethany-area parents can apply through Sept. 18 for a spot on a new Beaverton School District committee that will shape how elementary students use technology in the classroom.
The district is forming a Purposeful K-5 Technology Use Advisory Committee to develop screen time guidance and instructional technology expectations for grades K-5, according to a district announcement. Applications close at 4 p.m. that day.
The committee's recommendations are set for implementation in fall 2027.
What the committee will do
Members will review research and best practices, assess current district technology use, and provide input on screen time limits and instructional tech expectations for elementary classrooms. The district said the committee will include parents, staff, administrators, secondary students and community members, and is meant to reflect diverse perspectives across BSD.
The move follows months of community pressure. In a May 2026 statement, the district acknowledged it had heard concerns from families about the frequency and impact of student screen time at the elementary level. BSD noted at the time that students in grades K-2 do not sign into devices, leaving the district unable to track how much screen time those students actually get.
When BSD announced device-use updates for middle and high schools in June 2026, it deferred elementary-level guidance entirely. The new committee is the district's response to that gap.
Meetings and timeline
The committee will meet monthly from October 2026 through January 2027, with additional sessions as needed. All meetings run 6–7 p.m. at the District Administrative Office. A light dinner starts at 5:30 p.m.
The four scheduled dates are:
- Oct. 6
- Nov. 3
- Dec. 1
- Jan. 5, 2027
Broader context
The committee arrives as school districts nationwide grapple with classroom technology rules. Lawmakers in seven states have passed legislation or directives addressing device and digital tool use in K-12 classrooms, EdWeek Market Brief reported in August 2026. In Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek's Executive Order No. 25-09, issued in July 2025, requires all school districts to restrict personal electronic devices during instructional hours. BSD's existing policy already requires elementary students to store personal devices in backpacks during the school day, but that rule covers personal phones and smartwatches, not district-issued instructional devices like iPads and laptops.
Superintendent Tony Smith, who took over BSD on July 1, told KATU in July that technology policy is a priority. "AI is a tough conversation—a tool that should supplement and never supplant," Smith said.
How to apply
Applications are available through the district's announcement page linked above. The deadline is Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. The district has not said when or how the committee's final recommendations will be presented to the school board before the fall 2027 target.
