American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten released a ten-point education reform plan titled “Devices Down, Eyes Up, Hands-On” in May 2026, calling for strict limits on screen use and AI tools in schools. Key proposals include: a complete ban on screens and online assessments for Pre-K through 2nd grade (except for special needs); immediately halting the deployment of student-facing AI tools to elementary school students; prohibiting the use of “social companion” chatbots that simulate human relationships for students under 16; and imposing a 1% revenue tax on major U.S. tech companies, with the proceeds earmarked for federal education funding. Weingarten cited research showing that after the large-scale introduction of digital technology into classrooms, gains in reading and math scores have stagnated or declined.
The plan does not outright reject technology or AI, but calls for a return to an “active learning” model centered on project-based learning and experiential instruction, ensuring that technology serves rather than replaces real human interaction and hands-on practice. Weingarten also criticized the Trump administration’s push for ed-tech expansion. The statement echoes a health advisory issued earlier by the U.S. Surgeon General regarding excessive screen use among teenagers, and aligns with a recent cross-partisan grassroots movement of parents demanding reduced screen time in classrooms. The release of the plan has sparked a nationwide debate about educational priorities and the role of tech companies in schools.