Kindergartners through second graders at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools can no longer pull up YouTube on their school-issued iPads.

The ban is districtwide.

The restriction is part of a broader technology overhaul CMS put in place for the 2026-27 school year, which began Tuesday, Aug. 25. The district also set new screen-time limits in K-2 classrooms and barred technology from replacing physical activity during indoor recess, WFAE reported.

The changes came after parents raised concerns about how much time young students spent on devices, according to WFAE's earlier reporting.

Teachers can still lead classes in using YouTube. The policy applies only to independent student access on iPads, according to The Charlotte Ledger.

For Ballantyne families with children at Elon Park, Polo Ridge, Endhaven or Hawk Ridge elementary schools, the new rules apply to every K-2 classroom across the district.

Play-based kindergarten returns

CMS is also launching a play-based kindergarten pilot called K-Play at seven elementary schools this fall. The program gives kindergartners more play time aligned with curriculum goals, and the district said it could expand to additional schools if it succeeds.

The district stopped providing resources to kindergarten teachers for play-based learning centers around 2010, according to parents and teachers who advocated for its return, as The Charlotte Ledger reported.

CMS has not publicly identified which seven schools were selected for the pilot. Whether any Ballantyne-area elementary schools are among them remains unclear.

What else is new for young students

Kindergarten entry was staggered from Tuesday, Aug. 25, through Thursday, Aug. 27, with the first full day on Friday, Aug. 28. Pre-K begins Wednesday, Sept. 2.

CMS also reduced benchmark testing for students in grades 3-8 during the 2026-27 school year: two assessments instead of three. Schools that want to administer additional tests will need approval.

Superintendent Crystal Hill told The Charlotte Ledger at a back-to-school briefing the week of Aug. 18 that parents should stay engaged. "Ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask questions. … Meet with your child's teacher. Check their grades and their schedule," Hill said.

Nearly 140,000 students returned to CMS on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The district reported 161 teacher vacancies and 98 bus driver vacancies at the start of the year, roughly 50 fewer teacher openings than last year.

CMS is soliciting parent feedback through a new initiative called Elevating the Student Experience (ESE). A community survey is open through Wednesday, Sept. 30.