Silicon Valley parents push to remove screens from their children's schools

Tech workers in Silicon Valley are campaigning to limit screens and AI in public school classrooms in districts such as Mountain View and San Mateo. Some families pay $40,000–60,000 a year for screen-free private schools like San Francisco Waldorf.

• Tuition at San Francisco Waldorf runs $40,000 for kindergarten and nearly $60,000 for high school
• In 2025, 99% of US teachers said students get school-issued devices, and 81% said screens start in kindergarten
• Half of US teens spend four or more hours a day on screens outside schoolwork
• A San Mateo AI taskforce included staff from major tech firms, including Google's AI division