AirTalk Staff
Published Jun 24, 2026 8:55 AM
LAUSD is changing its screentime policy to be more restrictive.
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Hector Retamal
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Getty Images
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- LAUSD votes to limit screen time starting in August
- Checking in on the World Cup and how it’s translating to Metro ridership
- A complete history of the Rolling Stones
- Discipline in education: how things have changed and best practices today
Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses LAUSD limits on screen time for younger students, LA Metro ridership during the World Cup, new biography of the Rolling Stones and discipline in schools today.
LAUSD votes to limit screen time starting in August
The topic:
The Los Angeles Unified School Board unanimously approved a policy Tuesday to limit student screen time starting in August.
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The background: The decision follows a board vote in the spring that required the district to create a policy to set up guardrails on the amount of time students should spend in front of a digital device. District officials said that since May they’ve received feedback from nearly 19,000 members in the community. “Student focus and attention were the most frequently cited concerns, along with mental health and wellbeing, online safety, and privacy,” they said.
What changes? The changes include eliminating use of district-issued digital devices, like tablets and laptops, in the early years, from preschool through 1st grade. And for every other grade level, there will be daily or weekly maximum screen time limits.
Join the conversation: What are your thoughts? Call (866) 893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist
Guests:
- Elly Yu, senior reporter covering early childhood at LAist
- Nick Melvoin, LAUSD board member and author of the screen time ban
Checking in on the World Cup and how it’s translating to Metro ridership
FIFA World Cup 2026 scarves are displayed during the ribbon cutting for the LAX/Metro Transit Center rail and bus public transportation station at LAX on June 6, 2025.
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Patrick T. Fallon
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Getty Images
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The topic:
LA Metro has seen growth in its recent ridership this year. May showed a significant bump with the opening of the D Line extension. Since the World Cup, ridership has grown not just for those attending at SoFi Stadium, but also for affiliated FIFA World Cup events.
Ridership: Metro has logged more than 100,000 rides to and from SoFi Stadium for the first four matches in Inglewood, as reported by LAist.
Upcoming events: This week, Metro is hosting World Cup fan events at Union Station, including watch parties, music, food, and special appearances from soccer players (past and present). This’ll run from Thursday, June 25, to Sunday, June 28.
With files from LAist
Guests:
- Libby Rainey, LAist reporter who is covering the World Cup
- Kavish Harjai, LAist transportation correspondent
A complete history of the Rolling Stones
Author Bob Spitz joins AirTalk to talk about his latest book, The Rolling Stones: The Biography (Penguin Press, 2026)
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Courtesy Penguin Random House
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The topic:
What began as a happenstance reunion between two American blues lovers from Kent, England by the names of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, became a culmination of some of the most notable and groundbreaking rock n’ roll sounds that came out of the 20th century. From the award-winning, bestselling author of classic histories of the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, Bob Spitz joins AirTalk to talk about his latest book, The Rolling Stones: The Biography (Penguin Press, 2026)
Book event: Bob will be in conversation with L.A. Times music critic Mikael Wood tonight at 7 PM. He's also signing copies of the book at Book Soup in West Hollywood. More info here.
Guest:
- Bob Spitz, journalist and author of The Rolling Stones: The Biography (Penguin Press, 2026)
Discipline in education: how things have changed and best practices today
Do you think kids should be punished by withholding recess?
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DGLimages
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iStockphoto
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The topic:
Picture this: you are a fifth-grader who got too talkative in class with a buddy. You didn’t pay attention to instruction and your teacher decided to split you two up! But, that temporary solution didn’t fix things. So what are teachers supposed to do when they feel the need to discipline a student for poor behavior in the classroom? What leverage do they have? Today on AirTalk, we explore how disciplinary actions in education have evolved, what tactics have proven to be effective, and what the teachers today are employing to manage in-class decorum.
Recess is the law: In 2024, California made recess time the law, requiring at least 30 minutes of playtime daily for K-6 students with many sociologists arguing that recess is an essential part of a student’s day, contributing to an overall improvement of learning. This means teachers can’t take away recess, even though a Gallup poll found 77% of principals nationwide reported using this as a common disciplinary approach prior to the law.
Join the conversation: Are you a teacher, administrator, student or parent? What are your views on disciplinary approaches? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com
Guests:
- Judith Kafka, professor of educational policy and the history of education in the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College, City University of New York
- Pedro Noguera, dean of USC’s Rossier School of Education
- Arturo Garcia, school psychologist and professor of psychology at Long Beach City College and adjunct professor of Educational Psychology at CSU Long Beach
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