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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 27, 2026Miami-Dade

Strategies for parents to manage student distraction on school-issued and personal devices

This article outlines methods for parents to minimize digital distractions on student devices, including using built-in focus modes, setting screen-time limits, and coordinating with school administrators regarding device policies. It highlights the differences in control between personal and school-managed hardware and suggests behavioral strategies to improve student concentration.

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Why It Matters

Parents face varying levels of control over school-issued technology, which can impact a student's ability to focus on academic tasks and maintain healthy sleep patterns.

Key Facts

  • Parents have more control over personal devices than school-issued devices, which often have pre-set software and administrative restrictions.
  • Battle Ground Public Schools in Washington implemented overnight login restrictions for elementary and middle school students on school-issued Chromebooks last year.
  • Apple devices offer 'Focus' modes to silence notifications and 'Screen Time' settings to limit app usage.
  • Android devices provide 'Digital Wellbeing' settings to pause apps and 'Family Link' for parental management of Chromebooks and Android phones.
  • Deleting distracting apps is a recommended low-tech solution for persistent focus issues.
  • Experts suggest scheduling high-concentration work during a student's most alert periods of the day.
  • Frequent attention shifts are cited as detrimental to learning and information retention.
  • Starting homework early is recommended to prevent late-night work that may interfere with sleep.

Who's Mentioned

organizationApple“Provider of focus modes and screen-time management tools.”organizationGoogle“Provider of Family Link and Android/Chromebook management tools.”organizationBattle Ground Public Schools“Example of a district that implemented overnight login restrictions on school-is”personGloria Mark“Professor emerita at UC Irvine and author of 'Attention Span' who provided exper”personKelvin Chan“AP Business Writer who contributed to the report.”