When students go back to school on Monday, their laptops and classrooms will look a little different.

Why it matters: San Diego Unified is trying to move away from too much screen time in the classroom and is starting with a few low-hanging changes, with bigger changes coming later this year, district Board of Education trustee Shana Hazan told Axios.

Inside the classroom:

📺 YouTube and other streaming platforms will be blocked on student Chromebooks, though teachers can allow access for specific lessons.

🎮 Non-instructional gaming sites will also be blocked, but educational games can still be used.

💻 Chromebook carts are being removed from transitional kindergarten classrooms.

What's next: The district is also looking for nominations for a committee that will:

⏱️ Set screen time limits for each grade level.

📱 Review apps, games and digital tools for effectiveness, age-appropriate content and whether they show ads.

👩‍🏫 Research teacher training programs to help teachers not rely on technology.

🔬 The district also is considering partnering with the nonprofit Children and Screens that studies technology and child development.

The Board of Education would have to approve any new limits or rules.

• A separate committee will create guidance for how students and staff should use AI.

What they're saying: "For a long time our objective when it came to technology was increasing access, and that was really important because there was this huge digital divide coming out of COVID," Hazan told Axios. Now, the work is making sure students are getting quality information and not overly relying on those devices, she said.

Reality check: It can be hard to enforce a broad policy across the entire district (case in point: cellphone bans and recess rules).

• Hazan said compliance on some things will be easy, like blocking access to YouTube and gaming websites.
• For bigger things, they'll need to use training, coaching and classroom visits, she said.

Friction point: Some advocates want even more, like letting parents opt out of Chromebook use entirely.

• Los Angeles students won't use screens until third grade and have daily and weekly limits for other grades.

Those changes may come in San Diego, too, but Hazan said it's important to have buy-in first.

• "It means it takes a little longer on the front end, but we see much more positive and much more lasting results over the long term," she said.

Tell a parent

📅 First day of school — For San Diego Unified, it's Monday! Other districts are listed here.

📓 Classroom visits — Most schools allow parents on campus for at least the first day or first week. Check with your school.

🚗 Drop-off — Use your school's designated zone, no double-parking or U-turns out front.

🚸 Walking/biking — Practice the route beforehand, kids under 10 shouldn't cross alone.

🎒 Backpack/supplies — It's San Diego Unified policy that all supplies will be provided. Kids should have a backpack, water bottle and lunch if they aren't getting cafeteria food.

⏰ Bell schedule — Confirm your specific school's start/end times. Some schools also have early release for younger kids for the first week.

🏫 Free aftercare — San Diego Unified is providing free after care for all students this year. Details here.

🖥️ Imperial Valley hit pause on its data center rush after months of backlash. Imperial County froze projects through May 2027, while the city of Calipatria moved toward a permanent ban. KPBS)

🛍️ Plaza Bonita fetched $201.5 million in a sale to Henderson Park and Lowe, ending Westfield's decades-long ownership of the National City mall.

• The buyers are planning more dining, entertainment and public-space upgrades. (Union-Tribune)

📸 License plate data could vanish after 30 days under a new bill. It would also block federal and out-of-state agencies from local camera databases. (CalMatters)

• Gov. Newsom vetoed a similar bill last year.

🍅 Killer Tomatoes is back! The cult franchise based here is back in theaters with "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence" this Friday. (KPBS)

Not every kid dreads going back to school.

The big picture: Our informal survey of San Diego students found plenty they're excited about.

👯 "I'm excited to see my friends again, but I'm not looking forward to a ton of work and homework." — Cora, 7th grade

📚 "I honestly can't wait for the school year to begin. I love having a routine and working in big, supportive groups!" — Savannah, 12th grade

🧠 "School gives me the opportunity to consistently exercise my brain and see all my friends. Beyond the stress of college applications, I am excited to move on to a new chapter!" — Gretel, 12th grade

🎭 "I am most excited for the memories I will make this year. Since it is my senior year, I know a lot of the moments will be extra special, and I really believe my friends and I will make the most of them." — Liliana, 12th grade

Then there's the most important question: what are you wearing on the first day of school?

• We asked kids and teachers. None of the teachers had their outfit planned. The kids were a different story.

👖 "I'll probably wear jeans and a sweatshirt. I think clothes will be more on the comfy side, with sweatpants, sweatshirts and leggings." — Cora, 7th grade

👗 "I think more people are going to start wearing babydoll tops and dresses this year!" — Savannah, 12th grade

🧢 "Anything from the Essentials brand, Tilly's and Zumiez," Huxley, 6th grade

🌈 "I expect to see a rise in bright colors like turquoise and coral. Jeans also keep getting lower, so expect that trend to continue." — Gretel, 12th grade

🩴 "Flip-flops have always been a staple in California, and I keep seeing more teens becoming comfortable wearing them every single day. Birkenstocks can also be worn with socks when it gets cold." — Liliana, 12th grade

⭐ "Maybe a Star Wars shirt, maybe a first-day-of-school shirt, or maybe a Star Wars first-day-of-school shirt." — Andrew, 4th grade

🏫 "A shirt with my school name on it." — Devon, 4th grade