How NYC Parents Can Opt Out of iPad and Ed-Tech in DOE Schools

Why More NYC Parents Are Pushing Back on Classroom Ed-Tech

If your kindergartner is coming home talking about "iReady time" or your first-grader is spending chunks of the school day on an iPad, you're not alone in feeling uneasy. Across NYC's public elementary schools, screen-based programs have quietly become a fixture of daily instruction — often without much explanation to families about what data is being collected, how long kids are on devices, or whether any of it is actually helping.

The concerns parents raise are real and worth taking seriously. Programs like iReady (a reading and math adaptive platform) and Amira (an AI-powered reading tutor) have faced scrutiny over data privacy practices. Amira, for instance, collects children's voice recordings as part of its tutoring model — a fact that catches many parents off guard. iReady has been the subject of legal action related to its data practices. And independent research on whether these tools meaningfully improve learning outcomes for young children remains thin.

This isn't about being anti-technology. It's about asking reasonable questions: Who has access to my child's data? How much screen time is this adding up to? And does my child actually need an iPad to learn to read in first grade?

The good news: you have more leverage than you might think.

Understanding Your Rights as a DOE Parent

New York City public school parents have the right to request information about any educational program their child participates in, including ed-tech platforms. While the DOE does not have a single city-wide opt-out policy for specific software programs, individual schools often have flexibility in how — and whether — they enforce participation.

Key things to know:

• Schools use ed-tech at the building or classroom level. This means your principal and your child's teacher often have more discretion than you'd expect. What happens at PS 123 may be completely different from what happens down the block.
• You can ask to see the school's data privacy agreements. Under New York State Education Law, schools must have data privacy agreements (DPAs) in place with any ed-tech vendor that handles student data. You're entitled to know which vendors your child's school works with.
• You can request your child be excused from specific programs. It's not guaranteed, and schools may push back, but many parents have successfully arranged for their child to do alternative work during iReady or iPad time — especially when the request is put in writing.

What to Say and Who to Contact

Start with your child's teacher

Before going straight to the principal, have a low-key conversation with the classroom teacher. Ask genuinely curious questions: How often is iReady used? For how long each session? Is it replacing other instruction or supplementing it? This gives you useful information and often opens a collaborative dialogue.

Email the principal directly

If you want to formally opt your child out of a specific program, put it in writing to the principal. Keep the tone respectful and solution-oriented. A simple framework:

1. State clearly which program(s) you're concerned about (iReady, Amira, general iPad use, etc.).
2. Briefly explain your concern — data privacy, screen time, or both.
3. Ask what alternative your child can do during that time.
4. Request a written response.

You don't need to write a legal brief. A calm, clear email that treats the principal as a partner goes a long way. Many parents who have done this report getting accommodating responses, particularly when they're not the only family raising the issue.

Loop in your Parent Coordinator

Every NYC public school has a Parent Coordinator — their job is literally to help families navigate issues like this. They can tell you who the right contact is, whether other families have raised similar concerns, and how receptive the administration tends to be.

Raise it at the School Leadership Team (SLT)

The School Leadership Team meets regularly and includes parents by design. If ed-tech use is a broader concern at your school — not just for your child — this is the right venue to raise it. You can request to add it to the agenda.

What to Ask For, Specifically

Being specific helps. Rather than a general complaint about "too much screen time," consider requesting:

• A limit on the number of minutes per day your child spends on any screen-based program
• Exclusion from a specific platform (name it) with an alternative, non-screen activity during that time
• Information on which ed-tech vendors have data agreements with the school, and what data is collected on your child
• Notification before any new program is introduced that involves student data

Data Privacy: What to Know About iReady and Amira

Both iReady (made by Curriculum Associates) and Amira Learning have faced questions about their data practices. iReady has been the subject of lawsuits alleging that it tracks and shares student data beyond what's disclosed to families. Amira's AI tutoring model involves recording children's voices — which many parents find alarming, especially for kindergartners and first-graders.

Under New York State's Education Law 2-d, student data is supposed to be protected, and vendors must sign data privacy agreements with districts. But enforcement is uneven, and the reality is that most families have no idea which companies hold data about their children.

You can ask your school's principal or Parent Coordinator for a list of all ed-tech vendors currently used at the school and request copies of or links to the relevant data privacy agreements. This is a legitimate, legal request — and making it signals that families are paying attention.

Finding Lower-Tech Schools in NYC

If you're at a point where you'd prefer a school environment that's intentionally lower-tech — not just opting out of one program, but genuinely minimizing screens across the board — those schools do exist in the DOE system, though they're not always easy to find or get into.

The Neighborhood School in Manhattan's East Village has a reputation among NYC parents for taking a more old-school, hands-on approach to early childhood education with limited reliance on ed-tech. It's a good example that low-tech public school options exist — and are worth seeking out during kindergarten admissions if this is a priority for your family.

When researching schools, ask directly during tours or info sessions:

• How much time do students spend on iPads or computers each day?
• Does the school use iReady, Amira, or similar platforms?
• What does a typical kindergarten or first-grade day look like, hour by hour?

Schools with strong arts integration, project-based learning, or progressive education philosophies often (though not always) lean less heavily on ed-tech for young children.

Connecting with Other Parents on This Issue

You'll almost certainly find other families at your school who share your concerns — they just might not know how to raise them. Connecting with those families matters, because a group of parents asking the same question carries significantly more weight than one.

Organizations focused on children's screen time and tech in schools are active in NYC. Brooklyn-based advocacy groups have been organizing around these issues at the community and policy level, pushing for city-wide conversations about how and when ed-tech is appropriate for young children. Searching for local parent groups focused on screen-free childhood or low-tech education can connect you with families navigating the same questions and, in some cases, with parents who have already successfully pushed for change at specific schools.

A Note on Tone and Strategy

Parents who get results on this tend to approach it as a collaboration, not a confrontation. Most teachers didn't design these programs — they were handed them by the district and told to use them. Principals are often navigating mandates from above while also trying to keep parents happy. Coming in with curiosity and a specific, reasonable ask almost always lands better than coming in angry.

That said, don't let anyone tell you this isn't your business. Your child's screen exposure, and what companies hold data about them, is absolutely your business — and the DOE is accountable to you.

Quick Reference: Steps to Take

1. Talk to your child's teacher to understand current ed-tech use at the classroom level.
2. Email the principal with a specific, written opt-out request for named programs.
3. Contact your Parent Coordinator for guidance and to gauge school receptivity.
4. Request a list of ed-tech vendors and data privacy agreements from school administration.
5. Raise the issue at an SLT meeting if you want school-wide change.
6. Connect with other families who share your concerns — a group ask is more powerful.
7. If you're choosing a school, ask directly about ed-tech use during admissions tours.