BHUSD Passes Landmark Classroom Technology and AI Policy

The Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved a grade-by-grade policy governing classroom devices, digital learning and artificial intelligence, placing new limits on technology use while establishing expanded instruction in AI literacy and digital ethics.

Board Policy 6163.47, Intentional Technology Use in the Classroom, Digital Learning, and Artificial Intelligence Education, was approved in a 5-0 vote following three public Board study sessions and community input.

The policy is built around the principle that classroom technology should support instruction without replacing direct teaching, handwriting, physical books, mathematical computation by hand, classroom discussion, oral communication, experiential learning and independent reasoning.

"BHUSD has proven it is a leader in the educational landscape," Board President Judy Manouchehri said. "This historic policy provides a step-by-step framework with deliberate and appropriate limitations on technology use. It protects our students' natural creativity and curiosity during their younger years while providing greater access to technology and AI education as they mature, preparing them to lead in the future. By protecting foundational learning while advancing future readiness, BHUSD is setting a standard for school districts across the nation."

Under the policy, students in transitional kindergarten through second grade will not be assigned one-to-one devices. Technology use in those grades will be limited to required assessments, teacher-led activities and legally required accommodations.

Students in third through fifth grade will continue to prioritize handwriting, physical books, paper-based mathematics and direct interaction with teachers. They will also participate in a dedicated Technology and Innovation Program covering coding, robotics, digital citizenship, media literacy, internet safety and the fundamentals of artificial intelligence.

Middle school students will receive annual instruction in AI literacy, digital ethics, cybersecurity, coding, research, media literacy and responsible digital citizenship.

At the high school level, technology will be used for advanced academic work, college readiness and career preparation. The policy maintains an emphasis on writing, discussion, critical thinking, independent learning and original student work.

"Technology should never replace the essential work of learning," Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss said. "This policy removes unnecessary screen time so our classrooms can remain laser-focused on writing, experiential learning, critical thinking, and the foundational power of pen and paper. At the same time, BHUSD is advancing AI literacy, ethical use, and prompt engineering toward a graduation requirement so our students are prepared not simply to enter the future, but to lead and shape it."

The policy also restricts access to gaming and non-curricular websites on district devices and calls for families to receive weekly summaries of student device use.

Teachers will be prohibited from using artificial intelligence to grade student work, assign scores, produce final evaluative comments or replace their professional judgment. Those restrictions preserve direct teacher responsibility for evaluating student performance as AI tools become more common in schools.

Board President Manouchehri and Vice President Sigalie Sabag were designated to guide the policy's development during the Board's review process. The final framework was then approved by all five Board members.

The policy builds upon Resolution No. 2025-2026-14, Using Technology with Intention: Establishing Guidelines for Student Screen Time, which the Board approved in March 2026. Its implementation will now require BHUSD to translate the grade-level framework into classroom practices, instructional programs and family reporting procedures across the district.