San Diego Unified School District News Releases: San Diego Unified Begins School Year with New Learner-Centered Technology Approach

Editor Note: Trustee Shana Hazan is available on August 4 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 pm. Please contact me directly to schedule an interview slot with them. Thanks, James

Download B-Roll Video Here: Chromebook Computer Carts Taken Out of Transitional Kindergarten Classrooms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: James Canning, jcanning@sandi.net, 313-580-2845

San Diego Unified Begins School Year with New Learner-Centered Technology Approach

District launches first phase of technology updates to support student learning, wellness, and academic success

SAN DIEGO (AUGUST 03, 2026) — As nearly 95,000 students return to classrooms on August 10, San Diego Unified School District is launching a new learner-centered approach to technology designed to help students stay focused, engaged, and healthy throughout the school day.

Following the district’s Phone-free School Day policy last year, the first phase of the district's Learner-Centered Technology initiative introduces thoughtful changes to how district-issued devices are used in schools, ensuring technology remains a powerful educational tool while reducing unnecessary distractions and excessive screen time.

Beginning with the first day of the 2026-27 school year, students will experience several changes on district-issued Chromebooks:

Video-streaming platforms, such as YouTube, will be inaccessible unless enabled by educators to support specific instructional activities.
Non-instructional gaming platforms will not be accessible on district-issued devices.
Computer carts will be removed from Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classrooms, while ensuring students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 Plans, or language-learning needs continue to receive appropriate access to technology.

Visit www.SanDiegoUnified.org/LearnerCenteredTechnology to learn more.

These initial updates are part of a broader district effort to ensure technology supports learning, safety, wellness, and healthy child development while creating more opportunities for face-to-face collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking.

"Back-to-school is an opportunity to establish healthy routines that help students succeed throughout the year," said Richard Barrera, President of the San Diego Unified Board of Education. "Technology has transformed education in many positive ways, but it works best when it is used with purpose. These changes help ensure our classrooms remain places where students are actively engaged with their teachers, collaborating with classmates, and building the skills they need for success in school and beyond."

The district encourages families to partner in creating healthy technology habits at home by helping students reduce access to non-educational platforms outside of school hours.

District-issued devices are protected through Blocksi, a digital safety platform that filters inappropriate content, helps students remain focused on learning, and allows teachers to provide access to instructional resources when needed.

"Learning doesn't begin by interacting with a screen.t begins with curiosity, meaningful relationships, and engaging face-to-face instruction," said Shana Hazan, Trustee, San Diego Unified Board of Education. "These changes are designed to ensure technology serves as a tool that supports learning while giving students more opportunities to think critically, collaborate with one another, and build the communication skills they'll use for the rest of their lives."

The technology updates mark the beginning of a year-long effort. Throughout the school year, the district will work alongside educators, families, students, researchers, and community partners to develop additional recommendations that support healthy technology use.

The learner-centered technology initiative supports San Diego Unified's commitment to student achievement by promoting literacy, communication, critical thinking, mathematics, wellness, and college and career readiness while ensuring every student has access to technology that enhances—not distracts from—the learning experience.

###