‘Pencils, Not Pixels’: Parents Push for Stricter Tech Policies, Pause on AI in Santa Barbara Unified Schools

The district says some safeguards already exist and more are in the works, but some parents worry it’s too little, too slow.

By Callie Fausey May 28, 2026

6 min read

‘Pencils, Not Pixels’: Parents Push for Stricter Tech Policies, Pause on AI in Santa Barbara Unified Schools

Wikipedia plagiarism is old-school. Now, students have a more modern workaround: Just ask ChatGPT.

While artificial intelligence can be a powerful tool, many parents say it poses serious risks to students’ learning, safety, and privacy. In the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD), some are calling for a temporary moratorium on AI in schools until stricter safeguards are in place.

There is already a lack of trust among parents that the district is “doing the right thing for students in regard to tech,” said parent Nick Burwell, who works in the AI industry.