BHUSD Sets a New Standard for Classroom Technology and Artificial Intelligence Education

Beverly Hills, CA (July 15, 2026) – In a unanimous 5-0 vote, the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Governing Board of Education approved a historic policy establishing a comprehensive, grade-by-grade framework for classroom technology, digital learning, and artificial intelligence education.

Board Policy 6163.47, Intentional Technology Use in the Classroom, Digital Learning, and Artificial Intelligence Education, creates a deliberate balance between protecting foundational learning and preparing students for the future.

Through extensive deliberation, community input, and three public Board study sessions, the Board entrusted and designated President Judy Manouchehri and Vice President Sigalie Sabag with guiding the policy’s development. Their work helped shape the comprehensive framework ultimately approved unanimously by the full Board.

At the center of the policy is a clear principle: technology must support learning, never replace the human work of learning.
Direct teacher instruction, handwriting, physical books, mathematical computation by hand, classroom discussion, experiential learning, oral communication, and independent reasoning will remain essential parts of the BHUSD educational experience.

“BHUSD has proven it is a leader in the educational landscape,” said BHUSD Governing Board of Education President Judy Manouchehri. “This historic policy provides a step-by-step framework with deliberate and appropriate limitations on technology use. It protects our students’ natural creativity and curiosity during their younger years while providing greater access to technology and AI education as they mature, preparing them to lead in the future. By protecting foundational learning while advancing future readiness, BHUSD is setting a standard for school districts across the nation.”

The policy establishes developmentally appropriate expectations throughout a student’s education:
Transitional Kindergarten through Second Grade: Students will not be assigned one-to-one devices. Technology use will be limited to required assessments, teacher-led activities, and legally required accommodations.
Third through Fifth Grade: Students will prioritize handwriting, physical books, paper-based mathematics, and direct teacher interaction while participating in a dedicated Technology and Innovation Program covering coding, robotics, digital citizenship, media literacy, internet safety, and artificial intelligence fundamentals.
Sixth through Eighth Grade: Students will receive annual instruction in artificial intelligence literacy, digital ethics, cybersecurity, coding, research, media literacy, and responsible digital citizenship.

Ninth through Twelfth Grade: Technology will support advanced academic work, college readiness, and career preparation while maintaining a strong emphasis on writing, discussion, critical thinking, independent learning, and original student work.

“Technology should never replace the essential work of learning,” said BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss. “This policy removes unnecessary screen time so our classrooms can remain laser-focused on writing, experiential learning, critical thinking, and the foundational power of pen and paper. At the same time, BHUSD is advancing AI literacy, ethical use, and prompt engineering toward a graduation requirement so our students are prepared not simply to enter the future, but to lead and shape it.”

The policy also restricts gaming and non-curricular websites on District devices, provides families with weekly device-use summaries, and prohibits teachers from using artificial intelligence to grade student work, assign scores, generate final evaluative comments, or replace professional judgment.
Across the country, school districts are reconsidering the role of devices and artificial intelligence in education. While many policies focus only on restricting screen time or regulating AI, BHUSD’s framework addresses both by defining when technology should be limited, what should replace it, and how technology and AI education should expand as students progress through school.

The policy builds upon Resolution No. 2025-2026-14, Using Technology with Intention: Establishing Guidelines for Student Screen Time, approved by the Board in March 2026.

With this action, BHUSD is setting a new standard for public education by protecting the skills technology cannot replace while teaching students to responsibly master the tools that will shape their future.

View Board Policy 6163.47

View Board Resolution No. 2025-2026-14

View Photos

Unanimous 5-0 Board vote establishes a grade-by-grade framework that protects foundational learning, limits unnecessary screen time, and prepares students for an AI-driven future

Photo Credit: Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD)

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For Immediate Release 
July 15, 2026

Contact: Colby Gilardian
Public Information Officer
[email protected] 
(310) 871-8246 Mobile