The Washoe Parent Coalition: A Movement to Rebalance Childhood Education

Here's how a grassroots movement in Reno-Sparks is fighting back against unproven ed-tech, shrinking recess times, and the smartphone takeover.

The Washoe Parent Coalition began with a simple, urgent observation: childhood is changing faster than any of us expected. Screens are replacing play. Digital programs are replacing teachers. And the consequences—academic, physical, and emotional—are becoming impossible to ignore.

Founded by local parent and former ed-tech reporter Brandi Vesco, the coalition is a rapidly growing grassroots movement.

Brandy Vesco says: “We can turn things around fast if we all link arms and act together!”

That call to action has grown into a countywide movement with a clear mission: protect the mental, physical, and academic development of children by pushing for evidence‑based technology use, more real‑world play, and stronger state and local policies that put kids—not tech companies—first.

Washoe Parents Coalition is a growing movement. Washoe Parents gather to discuss education reform.

Why Parents Are Organizing Now

The coalition formed because families saw a troubling pattern: more tech, less play, and fewer opportunities for kids to move, socialize, and learn in developmentally appropriate ways.

The group’s founding statement captures the urgency: “Our goal is to quickly move from concern into action… through a combination of state laws, local policy reform and parent-powered collective action.”

Parents aren’t waiting for someone else to fix things. They’re organizing, petitioning, testifying, and building partnerships with national organizations that share their evidence‑based approach.

Beyond Screens: Bringing Evidence to Ed‑Tech

The Washoe Parent Coalition is now the official Washoe County chapter of Schools Beyond Screens, a national movement advocating for intentional, research‑backed technology use in schools.

The coalition’s position is straightforward:

• Only purchase ed‑tech tools with strong peer‑reviewed evidence

• Reduce screen time whenever possible and get kids off of phones

• Prioritize hands‑on learning, physical textbooks, and real social interaction

This stance became especially urgent after the Washoe County School Board’s May 12 vote to renew the i‑Ready online lesson platform—a $2 million license that requires weekly screen time for students as young as 5 years.

Brandi Vesco says: “The only state i‑Ready requirement is the reading assessment for children in kindergarten through third grade… Unfortunately, data shows the RBG3 law has not improved reading proficiency in our state or district since it was enacted in 2015.”

Parents may pursue legislative changes to Nevada’s Read By Grade 3 law in the future.

The Evidence Problem: What the Data Shows

The coalition’s stance is not anti‑technology—it is pro‑evidence. The coalition’s concerns are backed by research—and by the absence of it.

Brandi Vesco says: “No academic data was presented at the May 12 meeting… even though our K‑8 students have been using i‑Ready’s online math and reading lessons since 2023.”

She also notes that Curriculum Associates, the maker of i‑Ready, has no peer‑reviewed efficacy studies showing the lessons improve learning.

The only available research consists of two Johns Hopkins white papers—paid for by the company—which found no improvement in reading and only a 0.8% improvement in math, according to an analysis of the evidence by educational neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath.

Meanwhile, UNESCO reports that less than 2% of ed‑tech products have strong or moderate evidence of effectiveness, and only 11% of U.S. districts request peer‑reviewed evidence before adopting new technology.

Say YES to RECESS: Fighting for Play

The Washoe Parent Coalition is also the Nevada chapter of Say YES to RECESS, a national movement advocating for state laws that guarantee daily recess.

Brandi Vesco says: “Some of our kids are getting as little as 15 minutes of recess during a six-hour school day. And with no funding for PE in our elementary schools, recess is their only opportunity to move about.”

This February, the coalition will work with Nevada legislators to introduce a bill that would:

• Increase recess time

• Prohibit withholding recess for academic or disciplinary reasons

Decades of research show recess improves mental health, physical health, behavior, and academic performance. Nevada’s children deserve these benefits.

Let Grow: Independence, Confidence, and Play

Washoe Parents Coalition is also partnering with Let Grow, a national organization promoting free play and age‑appropriate independence.

They hope to bring Let Grow Play Clubs to Washoe County schools—no‑cost programs where school grounds open before and after school for unstructured play.

Brandi Vesco explains: “Play Clubs… cost nothing and only require a couple of teachers or parent volunteers… Districts across the country are adopting Let Grow Play Clubs and seeing fantastic results.”

Let Grow also offers a free independence curriculum where students complete age‑appropriate tasks on their own—walking the dog, cooking a meal, changing a tire—building confidence through real‑world experience.

Wait Until 8th: An Approach to Delaying Smartphones.

The coalition supports the Wait Until 8th pledge, a national movement helping families delay smartphones until at least the end of eighth grade.

The pledge is simple:

• It applies only to smartphones

• Families can still use basic call‑and‑text devices

• It activates once 10 families from the same school and grade sign on

Brandi Vesco states: “It’s helpful to be connected with these other families, because that means you’re not doing it alone — and neither is your child.”

The Reno‑Sparks chapter tracks pledge numbers locally, giving parents real‑time insight into how many families are waiting.

A Growing Movement Rooted in Evidence, Community, and Action

The Washoe Parent Coalition is a parent‑powered engine for reform, fiscally sponsored by AHA Projects, a 501(c)(3), and rapidly building momentum.

Their action steps are clear:

• Launch Let Grow programs in local schools

• Share information with principals and trustees

• Connect with the coalition to get involved

• Sign petitions, support legislation, and donate to sustain the work

Brandi Vesco says: “If you’re fired up and would like to connect with us about getting involved right away, please reach out on their website.”

Why This Matters for Washoe County’s Children

The stakes are high. Nevada’s reading scores have not improved since 2015. Recess time is shrinking. Children are receiving smartphones earlier and earlier. And schools are spending millions on digital tools without peer‑reviewed evidence that they work.

The coalition’s message is simple: childhood deserves better.

Their work is grounded in research, driven by parents, and aligned with national movements calling for healthier, more balanced childhoods.

Washoe County has an opportunity to lead—not by adopting the newest tech trend, but by returning to what decades of evidence already show works: play, movement, independence, real‑world learning, and intentional technology use.

This is how we rebuild childhood. This is how we strengthen our schools. This is how communities change—together.

This article originated from a correspondence with Brandi Vesco, founder of Washoe Parents Coalition, a 501(c) nonprofit, and is supported by a donation from the organization. Visit the link to learn more: https://www.washoeparents.org.

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