Gov. Kay Ivey delivers the State of the State Address at the Alabama State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Montgomery, Ala. On Wednesday, Ivey signed an executive order that created a commission to study screen-based instruction in K-12 classrooms across the state.(Estela Muñoz for Alabama Reflector)
Gov. Kay Ivey Wednesday afternoon signed an executive order creating a commission dedicated to studying screen-based instruction.
The Commission on Screen-Based Instruction will study the risks, usage and benefits of screen-based instruction in K-12 classrooms across the state.
“Responsible use of classroom screen time is a top priority of my administration, and while we are already making a difference by passing two signature laws to address it, we can still do more,” Ivey said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “Children’s overexposure to screens is a barrier to classroom learning and the acquisition of critical emotional and social skills. We must continue exploring the proper role of screen time in classrooms of all ages.”
During the 2026 regular session, Ivey signed HB 78, sponsored by Rep. Jeana Ross, R-Guntersville. The bill set screen time limits for children up to five years old in licensed child-care facilities. Ross also filed HB 584 which would have expanded the limits for all public school students, but the bill failed to pass before the Legislature adjourned in April.
Last year, Ivey signed the FOCUS Act into law which prohibits cell phones in classrooms and requires local boards of education to have internet safety policies.
The newly-created commission will submit a final report on its findings to Ivey, the Legislature and the Alabama State Department of Education by Dec. 1.
From Alabama Reflector Post Url: Visit
Author: Andrea Tinker