Schools across the U.S. are reversing years of broad technology-first policies as administrators and families conclude that classroom screens and laptop programs have not improved academic outcomes. A Kansas middle school, McPherson Middle School, banned cell phones in school four years ago but continued using school-issued Chromebooks until the district asked students to surrender laptops in December. Administrators reported that students used laptops for non-instructional activities such as streaming and games, including behavior tied to misuse of school accounts. The shift toward paper notes and limited laptop use for teacher-assigned activities reflects a wider policy reconsideration reported in other states, including North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Michigan. For higher education stakeholders watching evidence and implementation, the story signals that K-12 technology governance is moving from procurement decisions to measurable learning outcomes—an important upstream driver for college readiness.