Galesburg School District Pulls Back on Student Chromebooks Over Screen Time Concerns

Galesburg District 205 is making a major change to how students use technology in the classroom.

Starting next school year, the district will no longer assign individual ChromeBooks to students in grades 2 through 8. Instead, devices will be shared and only used when needed for specific lessons.

Here's Why

District leaders say the move comes after taking a closer look at how increased screen time, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has affected student learning.

“We’ve seen some negative impacts on student growth tied to the amount of screen time,” said Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Hamm. “We’re not eliminating technology, we’re just being more intentional about how often it’s used.”

Under the new plan, Chromebooks will be stored in classroom carts or libraries, allowing teachers to check them out when necessary rather than having students use them all day.

New Devices Still on the Way

While usage is being scaled back for younger students, the district is still investing heavily in updated technology.

School board members recently approved about $1.2 million to replace student Chromebooks for grades 2 through 12, along with an additional $263,000 for staff laptops. The funding will come from a mix of district technology budgets and federal grants.

The upgrade comes after staff reported widespread issues with aging devices, many of which were nearing the end of their typical four-year lifespan. Newer models are expected to last significantly longer, potentially up to 10 years.

Online Testing Still Required

Even with reduced classroom use, the district must maintain enough devices for standardized testing, which is required to be completed online under federal guidelines.

Superintendent John Asplund expressed frustration with that requirement, arguing it puts students at a disadvantage.

“You’re not just testing what a student knows, you’re also testing how comfortable they are with technology,” he said.

Asplund added that he reached out to state leaders about returning to paper testing but was told districts must continue administering exams digitally.

He also criticized the system, saying it benefits testing companies more than students.

“This isn’t helping kids,” Asplund said. “It’s making things easier for companies while adding another hurdle for students.”