Rollback of Pandemic School Tech

School districts and states that spent heavily on laptops and learning software during the pandemic are now scaling back in‑school device use amid parent pressure and ambiguous evidence about learning benefits and developmental harms. The reversal links federal pandemic relief spending (Edunomics Lab: $15–$35B) to new state bills and district policies limiting screen time and expanding opt‑outs. — This shift reframes the pandemic tech buildout as a reversible public investment with long‑run consequences for digital equity, education budgeting, and how evidence shapes schooling policy.