Update on Device and Technology Use in LMSD

Superintendent Dr. Frank Ranelli shared the letter below
with the LMSD community on June 24, 2026.

Dear LMSD Community,

I hope you are enjoying the start of summer break. As promised, I am sharing an update with you on LMSD’s approach to technology use in schools, which we have been reviewing as part of LMSD’s ongoing work to ensure that use is purposeful, supervised, developmentally appropriate, and directly tied to core instruction that prioritizes human interaction and hands-on learning.

On June 15, 2026, the Lower Merion Board of School Directors approved a First Reading of LMSD’s new Technology Use Policy, which you can review here. The Policy Committee is considering taking out section VII, titled “Safety, Monitoring and Privacy” and developing that into a different standalone Policy.

While the Policy is not final, it will serve as our guiding document as we prepare for the 2026-2027 school year. Among the key points:

• Technology will be used only when it serves a clear educational purpose and enhances teaching and learning. Technology will not be used to replace non-digital methods and essential learning experiences.
• Technology will continue to be used to support specialized educational plans, accommodations, modifications, and other services that promote inclusion and equitable access for all students.
• Technology resources will continue to be vetted to ensure student safety and privacy. Filtering, blocking and other safeguards will be used to prevent access to inappropriate content on District devices.
• Technology use will differ for different grade bands.
  • K-2: No individual devices. No use for routine class instruction.
  • Grades 3-4: No individual devices. Limited classroom use, only under teacher supervision.
  • Grades 5-6: Individual devices assigned for use in the classroom under teacher supervision. Parents/guardians can choose whether they are taken home to further meet student needs.
  • Grades 7-8: Individual devices assigned for use in and out of school.
  • Grades 9-12: Individual devices assigned for use in and out of school.
• Off and Away (Personal Device Use)
  • Grades K-8: No use of personal devices in school buildings during school hours.
  • High School: Personal devices must be turned off and stored in a teacher-designated area during class periods.
• LMSD will provide students ongoing, developmentally appropriate instruction on digital citizenship, online safety and responsible communication.

These practices will be implemented in addition to those that were outlined in my previous letter, which were:

• Providing teachers in-class, real-time control and oversight of student technology use.
• Introducing an app to allow parents/guardians to monitor their students’ daily use of district technology and device use.
• Providing a tool to give parents/guardians the option of restricting use of District devices at home (grades 5-12).
• Strengthening web filters to further block inappropriate, non-educational content.
• Establishing a reporting method for parents/guardians to share websites for filtering consideration.
• Developing alternative instruction options for elementary students during emergency school-closure days.

More details will be incorporated into the Policy’s accompanying Administrative Regulations, which we will work on over the summer. But what will not change is LMSD’s commitment to providing our students with human-centered, high-quality teaching and learning through active engagement and meaningful relationships at school.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Sincerely,

Dr. Frank Ranelli
Superintendent