Many school districts across the country are tightening restrictions on cell phone use because they believe students' misuse of devices has negatively affected their behavior and ability to learn.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2015, 66% of U.S. schools banned cellphone use during school hours for non-academic purposes.. In 2020, that percentage jumped to 77%.
Many educators criticize students' cell phone use as one of the biggest distractions in schools and classrooms.. Continued use of devices has also been linked to poorer mental health in students..
The issue has also attracted the attention of federal and state policymakers. Some states, including California, Florida, Indiana, and Tennessee, have passed laws allowing schools to restrict cell phone use. Several other states are considering passing similar legislation. Lawmakers also proposed a bill. This requires federal research into the effects of cell phone use on students' mental health and academic performance.
Liz Kolb, a clinical professor of educational technology and teacher education at the University of Michigan, said it is unlikely that all 50 states will pass laws restricting students' cell phone use. [movement] We are trying to find reasonable policies at the individual school level. [for their communities].”
At the local level, these restrictions vary widely. Some school districts restrict student cell phone use anytime and anywhere during school hours. Some allow device use during lunch hours and in the hallways. And some have no restrictions at all due to backlash from parents and students.
Even in areas where there is a ban, “there's a lot of variation” in how schools address it, Kolb said. “For blanket school bans to be effective, there must be strong leadership to support school staff in implementing them.”
Some of these nuances include exceptions for students who have a documented need to have a digital device for health reasons, such as checking blood sugar levels if the student has diabetes. Teachers also have the flexibility to allow students to use cell phones during class if needed for educational purposes.
Below are six policy approaches districts are implementing to address concerns about student cell phone use.
1. Cell phone use is restricted for all students regardless of grade.
In Orange County, Florida, All students are prohibited from using cell phones and other wireless communication devices (e.g. smartwatches) during class time. This means that from the first bell to the dismissal bell, these devices must be placed in the bag on silence. If a student is caught using a cell phone during class, the device will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of class. Depending on the circumstances of the violation, the student may be detained or suspended from school.
Flint School in Michigan We also prohibit the use of cell phones or other personal electronic devices by any student, regardless of grade level. If a student is caught using a phone, the phone will be confiscated and returned to the student's parent or guardian.
Some districts offer technology solutions, such as pouches, to lock and store students' cell phones during school hours. In other districts, educators have found creative ways to separate students from their phones, such as using shoe holders where students can place their phones during class.
2. Cell phones are limited to elementary school students, with more flexibility for middle and high school students.
Restrictions on the use of cell phones and other two-way communication devices exist for all students in the Wauwatosa, Wisconsin area., which has more flexible rules for middle school and high school students. Elementary school students are prohibited from using cell phones all day, but middle and high school students are allowed to use cell phones after school, between classes, during lunch hours, and during free time. Teachers and principals have the discretion to impose consequences for misuse.
3. Elementary and middle school students are prohibited from using cell phones, but high school students are prohibited from using cell phones.
Elementary and middle school students in the Rockingham, Virginia area. High school students may use personal electronic devices during lunch, in study hall, during counseling sessions permitted by teachers and principals, and between classes;
4. Cell phone use is restricted to classrooms, locker rooms, and restrooms.
Other districts, such as Richmond Schools in Wisconsin, restrict cell phone use to only certain areas of the school, such as classrooms, locker rooms and restrooms, to prevent bullying or sharing of inappropriate images, according to some district policies.
5. Use of cell phones is restricted to classroom use only.
Some restrictions focus only on classroom hours and allow students to use cell phones outside of the classroom. in the Brush School District in Colorado.For example, students are not allowed to take out their cell phones during class time, but they can use them at any other time. If a student is caught with a cell phone in a situation where cell phones are not permitted, parents may come to school to retrieve the phone or have the student keep the phone until the end of the day at school.
6. Restrictions on cell phone use are left to each school.
Some districts, like Meriden in Connecticut and Minnetonka in Minnesota, do not have district-wide restrictions but instead have guidelines for schools to follow.
For example, Meriden's guidelines recommend that elementary school students keep their phones in their bags throughout the school day. Middle school students will keep their phones in their lockers but may use them during lunch. Allow high school students access to their cell phones throughout the day, but make sure they are turned off and out of sight during school hours.
Other areas, such as Pawtucket, Rhode IslandAllow principals or teachers to enforce their own school or classroom rules about cell phones as long as there is a clear plan for allowing students to use cell phones in emergency situations.