Full Breakdown
Schools Scale Back Chromebook Programs Amid Concerns Over Test Scores
7/28/2026, 1:21:26 AM
Core Event
Across several states, districts are pulling back from one-to-one laptop policies that placed a Google Chromebook with every student. In central Kansas, McPherson Middle School asked its 480 students to surrender their Chromebooks in December after a ban on cell phones led to laptops being used for YouTube, games, and online teasing. The devices now sit idle in carts while students take notes with pen and paper. Similar reversals are occurring in North Carolina, Michigan, and other states, where administrators cite declining test scores and mounting stress linked to screen time.
Background & Context
The push for universal laptops began in the early 2000s; Maine adopted a statewide program in 2002 but saw no improvement in test scores after 15 years, according to NPR. Nationwide, Chromebooks captured 60 % of the global education market by 2025, driving a $14 billion market. In North Carolina, $448 million of pandemic-era federal funding was spent on devices, yet many now face replacement challenges as hardware typically lasts less than a decade.
Data & Statistics
- Chromebook cost: $300-$400 per device.
- Education accounts for 60 % of Chromebook market share (2025).
- Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) data cited by neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath show a negative correlation between frequent in-class computer use and math/science scores for fourth- and eighth-graders worldwide.
- In Burke County, NC, a board resolution limiting screen time was followed by reported gains in reading comprehension and test scores, plus reduced homework-related stress.
- In Wexford County, MI, more than 65 % of third- through fifth-graders were “not proficient” or “partially proficient” on state tests before a screen-ban was implemented.
Official Statements & Responses
Robert Taylor, superintendent of Wake County Public School System, told a 2025 committee that the district must move away from its one-to-one laptop policy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This technology can be a tool. It is not the answer to education,” — McPherson’s
- “Frequent in-class computer use correlates with significantly lower math and science performance across both high-income and middle-income countries.” — Jared Cooney Horvath, a neuroscientist and former teacher
