Updated Nov. 6 at 5:55 a.m. with comments from Thursday’s school board meeting.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A group of Alexandria parents is collecting signatures on an open letter asking the school board to sharply limit screen time and personal devices in elementary classrooms, arguing that Alexandria City Public Schools has fallen behind neighboring districts in rethinking classroom technology.

The letter from Schools Beyond Screens - Alexandria, posted online this week in English and Spanish, had drawn more than 270 signatures on its English version as of early Friday, toward a stated goal of 1,500. It calls on ACPS to eliminate device use for prekindergarten through second grade, phase out one-to-one devices in favor of shared carts, drop learning apps that lack independent peer-reviewed evidence, block gaming, streaming and social media on student devices by default, and bar student-facing generative artificial intelligence through eighth grade.

Schools Beyond Screens - Alexandria has not yet delivered the letter to the board; it says it is continuing to gather signatures first. It is encouraging supporters to submit questions on technology use ahead of the school board’s “Let’s Talk ACPS” town hall Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at 1340 Braddock Place, and lists the Dec. 3 board meeting as its next opportunity for public comment.

Acting Superintendent Grace Taylor said Thursday that questions already submitted for the town hall include budget priorities, modernization projects and the superintendent transition.