Gov. Ivey creates Alabama commission to study K-12 screen use

Gov. Kay Ivey signed Executive Order 745 on July 22, creating a statewide commission to study how screens and technology are used in Alabama K-12 classrooms. The Governor’s Commission on Screen-Based Instruction must submit its final report to the governor, Legislature and State Board of Education by December 1, 2026.

The order starts a policy review, not a new statewide classroom screen ban or mandate. Alabama schools do not have to change lesson plans or reduce instructional device use solely because of Executive Order 745. Any broader requirements would require later legislation, regulation or other state action.

What the commission will study

Executive Order 745 directs the commission to examine the risks and benefits of screen-based instruction in K-12 classrooms and provide evidence-based recommendations. The questions listed in the order include how classroom technology affects student outcomes, the educational value of screen-based instruction, current practices in Alabama and other states, and possible health or mental-health risks.

The commission also may consider how classroom technology prepares students for postsecondary education and the workforce. The order recognizes that technology can support instruction when used responsibly and in moderation, while also emphasizing direct, teacher-led instruction, handwriting, physical texts and sustained interaction with teachers and peers.

Possible recommendations include age- and developmentally appropriate limits on screen-based instruction, professional development and guidance for educators and school officials, and practices to ensure technology enhances rather than replaces direct teacher-led instruction.

Who is serving on the commission

Members named by the governor include Rep. Jeana Ross, the chair; Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison; State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey; Mobile County teacher Stephanie Pettis; Tuscaloosa middle school teacher Laren Hammonds; Opelika High School Principal Kelli Fischer; Houston County Superintendent Brandy White; state education specialist Misty Wilson; Saraland Assistant Superintendent Frankie Mathis; child psychologist Nashedra Barry; Birmingham parent representative Brooke Gillis; Tuscaloosa City Schools technology director Chris Jenks; University of Alabama researcher Cailin Kerch; and Manufacture Alabama workforce representative Amanda Salazar.

The members serve at the governor’s pleasure and without compensation, although they may elect to receive per diem and transportation allowances authorized by state law for official travel. State agencies and other state-funded entities must cooperate with the commission and provide requested information.

The commission’s first meeting will be called by Ross, and it will meet periodically as needed. The order says the commission will be dissolved after it submits its final report.

What the order does and does not change

Executive Order 745 does not immediately require Alabama districts to limit school-issued laptops, tablets or other classroom technology. It also does not establish a statewide K-12 screen-time schedule. Instead, it directs the commission to gather findings and develop recommendations that could inform later policy decisions.

WTVM reported that some parents and students welcomed a possible balance between technology and traditional instruction, while others questioned whether classroom screen use is already becoming too extensive. Those reactions reflect the practical debate the commission is expected to examine before making recommendations.

How this fits with existing Alabama policy

The new review follows the 2025 FOCUS Act, which prohibits students from using smartphones and other wireless devices inside Alabama public schools, except for educational purposes or emergencies. The law also requires local boards of education to adopt internet-safety policies governing student access to the internet on school-owned devices.

The FOCUS Act separately requires the Alabama State Department of Education to offer safe social-media training for students before they enter the eighth grade. Those provisions address student cellphone access and online safety; they are different from the commission’s broader examination of school-issued technology used for instruction.

Alabama Public Radio has reported that the classroom-technology debate also includes student privacy, restrictive internet filters, responsible technology use and access to artificial-intelligence tools. Those issues could become part of the broader policy discussion as the commission evaluates how technology is used in schools.

A separate early-childhood law takes effect in 2027

A separate law signed in March addresses younger children. The Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act requires the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, working with the Department of Human Resources and the State Department of Education, to develop guidance for screen-based media in early-childhood programs, including day care, prekindergarten and kindergarten settings.

The law also requires a training program for teachers and other staff members who supervise children. It takes effect January 1, 2027, and is separate from the new K-12 commission’s study.

What parents and schools should watch

The next major deadline is December 1, 2026, when the commission’s findings and recommendations are due. The report could inform bills considered during the 2027 legislative session, but it does not guarantee that lawmakers will adopt new limits or other changes.

Parents, teachers and school districts should watch for the commission’s meeting schedule, requests for public input, recommendations about age-based limits and educator guidance, and any State Board of Education or legislative proposals that follow the report.

Sources

Discover more from Interactive News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.