Google’s ‘school time’ setting is coming to Android devices

Over the next year, parents of children using Android phones and tablets will notice a new setting called “school time,” Google announced on Thursday.

Parental Controls allow guardians to set limits on their child’s device use while at school or at other times when they want to limit distractions.

The setting is already available on Fitbit’s recently launched Ace LTE smartwatch for kids, and will soon be available on Samsung Galaxy watches.

Mindy Brooks, Google’s general manager of kids and families, said in a blog post that the company had heard from parents who wanted to minimize digital distractions for their child at school but still wanted a way to reach them in an emergency. Parents will have the option to allow calls or texts from specific contacts.

School time sets the child’s device to a dedicated home screen, limiting its functionality. Parents can restrict access to specific apps during this time by selecting them in Google Family Link.

Teachers who have long complained that the use of phones and mobile devices hinders their teaching and contributes to burnout may also be interested in this environment.