Latest news with #cellphonepolicy
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Wake schools now have a cellphone policy. What students and parents should know.
Wake County elementary and middle schools are now expected to become cellphone-free during the school day with high schools allowing the devices to be used in limited situations. The Wake County school board unanimously gave final approval Tuesday to a new cellphone policy that says personal wireless communication devices must be silenced and put away during instructional time. The policy would allow high school students to take their phones out during breaks and if allowed in class by the teacher. 'High school students are different,' said school board member Lynn Edmonds. 'They should have a little bit more autonomy.' Failure to follow the new policy, which goes into effect in July, could result in phones being confiscated and students being disciplined. The policy represents Wake County's first attempt to standardize cellphone rules across all schools. Previously, individual schools set their own policies. Wake's new phone policy comes amid growing concerns about the negative impacts the devices have on learning and students' mental health. At least 24 states have laws or policies that ban or restrict students' use of cellphones in schools statewide or recommend local districts enact their own bans or restrictive policies, according to an Education Week analysis. Both the state House and Senate have passed their own bills restricting cellphone use in school and included the language in their budget proposals. Wake would have to change the policy if the Senate bill becomes law because it requires phones to be turned off and not just silenced in class. School leaders say the policy will likely need to be revised on a regular basis due to changes in technology. The phone policy is more restrictive at elementary schools and middle school than high schools. Under the policy, elementary and middle school students would be required to put their phones away during instructional time between morning and afternoon bells. To provide consistency, the board rejected adding wording on Tuesday that would allow schools to place additional restrictions. The policy defines 'put away' as being out of sight and not easily accessible. This can include putting the phone in a locker, backpack or bag. Students wouldn't be allowed to leave their phones in their pocket. Some exceptions would be allowed for students to use phones during school: ▪ Phones can be used during school hours if they're authorized or required in the individualized education program or Section 504 plan of a student with disabilities. Wording was added Tuesday to also include if phones are used by students with disabilities for translation or assistive communication. ▪ Phones can be used if they're part of a student's individualized health plan. Examples include using the phone to monitor a student's glucose levels ▪ School staff may authorize brief use of a device if there is a reasonable and legitimate need to communicate with someone outside the school during the instructional day. Students must ask for permission in advance, unless they're calling 911 in an emergency. Two exceptions would only apply at high schools: ▪ The high school is allowing teachers to authorize use of devices during class for instructional purposes. ▪ The high school has developed a rule for allowing the devices to be used during specified non-instructional time, such as class change and lunch. School board member Toshiba Rice said it would cause too many problems telling high school students that they can't check their phones during non-instructional times. 'You can't take away something that is part of a person's social norms in its entirety,' Rice said. The policy allows school staff to temporarily confiscate a student's phone if they've repeatedly violated the policy or their use of the device is substantially disrupting other students. At the urging of board member Lindsay Mahaffey, the policy was amended Tuesday to say that students will get a verbal warning first about silencing or putting away their phones before they are confiscated. 'They're children,' Mahaffey said. 'Children make mistakes.' Phones are generally supposed to be returned at the end of the class. But they can be confiscated for the entire school day if the student's behavior is substantially disruptive or if they've regularly violated the policy. Parents are supposed to be notified if their student's device is being repeatedly confiscated or if it's being confiscated for the entire school day. Parents can be required to come to the school to pick up the confiscated phone if there's been a pattern of violations all school year and written warning was provided ahead of time. The policy says the school system will not accept responsibility for the theft, loss or damage to phones. Ahead of the vote, the district surveyed teachers about the policy with 2,617 submitting responses. ▪ 87.6% of teachers agree or strongly agree that phones should be turned off during instructional time. ▪ Teachers were split whether there are appropriate times when student device use can be encouraged with 43.5% agreeing or strongly agreeing and 42.2% of teachers disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. ▪ 58.8% of teachers agreed or strongly agreed that device confiscation should only be used as a last resort after other classroom management strategies have failed. ▪ 61.9% of teachers agree or strongly agree that they support device confiscation in classrooms. Also on Tuesday, the school board voted to convert Lake Myra Elementary School in Wendell to a multi-track year-round calendar starting in the 2026-27 school year. In a multi-track calendar, all the students are divided into four groups, called tracks, which have their own rotating schedules. Three tracks are in session at all times, which can increase the building's capacity by 20% or more. The conversion will expand Lake Myra's capacity from 616 students to 814 students. Lake Myra currently uses a track 4 year-round calendar, meaning all students follow the same schedule.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Cedar Hill ISD implements new cellphone policy for 2025-26 school year
North Texas school districts look for ways to curb cellphone use North Texas school districts look for ways to curb cellphone use North Texas school districts look for ways to curb cellphone use Another North Texas school district is making an effort to keep cellphones out of its classrooms. Cedar Hill ISD announced on Tuesday it will implement a new personal electronic communications policy starting this upcoming school year, 2025-26. CHISD said the goal with the policy is to increase scholar focus, reduce classroom distractions and enhance academic engagement across all grade levels. "As a board, we believe the new guidelines will limit distractions and disruptions to the learning process, which can frequently be caused by cellphone usage," said Cedar Hill ISD Board of Trustees President Dr. Denise Roache-Davis. "Our goal is to foster focused learning environments where every scholar is fully engaged. By limiting distractions, we are making space for deeper learning, collaboration, and academic growth." The policy states personal devices must be stored off during instruction. Device usage is only allowed before and after school, with exceptions for medical needs or Dallas College course access, according to the school district. Devices that are confiscated should be picked up by a parent or guardian for a $15 administrative fee. CHISD said there is a graduated system of consequences in place for repeat incidents. CHISD said the effort is in alignment with House Bill 1481, passed by Texas lawmakers last year. It encourages school districts to limit the use of cellphones during instruction time to support a more focused academic environment. CHISD students go back to class on Aug. 11.
CBC
3 days ago
- Health
- CBC
1 year in, teachers' union says phone ban boosts students' focus, but more action needed
Social Sharing It's been nearly a full school year since Prince Edward Island introduced restrictions on cellphone use for students, and teachers say they're seeing positive results. Andy Doran, president of the P.E.I. Teachers' Federation, said the changes have helped students focus better in class. "They were more engaged. There was better work being done. Students were asking more questions, and [there was] an overall improvement in the engagement of the students," Doran told CBC's Island Morning. But he believes the policy is just the beginning when it comes to addressing the larger issue of screen time. Under the policy, students in grades K-6 must have their phones silenced and out of sight while they are at school unless they are given specific permission from a teacher. Students in grades 7-12 are allowed to use their phones during lunch and other breaks but must follow restrictions during class time. While there have been some rule violations, Doran said that's expected. He added that younger students, in particular, have adapted well. "The pressure was off to have to constantly respond to social media and constantly respond to friend groups and [what] helped with the implementation of the whole thing is that the students bought into it, and their parents certainly did too," he said. Addressing broader screen time habits Doran said school cellphone policies are only one piece of a bigger puzzle. "When I say screen time, I'm talking about not just school. I'm talking about 24 hours a day, the issue that our young people and younger adults are spending way too much time on screens, and not enough time in conversation or social interaction with others," he said. He said teachers are seeing the effects of excessive screen use outside of school, particularly when it comes to attendance. Some students who stay up late playing video games or using social media can struggle to attend or fully participate in school the next day. "We're seeing a lot of our attendance is attached to screen time," he said. That's why Doran believes education around responsible screen use should become part of the school curriculum in the coming years. While schools and teachers play a role, families must also take responsibility, he said. "We only have the students for six hours… But what I'm talking about is the other 18 hours a day, the other 150 days a year when the students aren't in school," he said. "Those guidelines have to come into play at home. The parents have to take the initiative to make sure screen time is limited outside school." They were more engaged. There was better work being done. Students were asking more questions. — Andy Doran, president of the P.E.I. Teachers' Federation As summer approaches, Doran is encouraging families to plan ahead and help children spend more time outdoors to avoid slipping back into unhealthy habits. "At our teachers convention last fall, a speaker got up and said that in the past, 'We'd think nothing of letting our kids walk down the street. Now, we don't let [our] kids walk down the street, but we allow them to go into their rooms with a cellphone and close the door,'" Doran said. "That got me thinking. That's so true, how much danger there is in a cellphone when it's unsupervised. So if I was advising parents: Continue to supervise their cellphone use, continue to limit their screen time use, and have a great summer."
CBS News
4 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Baltimore County schools test cellphone restrictions to curb classroom distractions
Seventeen Baltimore County public schools are taking part in a pilot program aimed at teaching responsible cellphone use and limiting distractions in the classroom. The program limits phone access during class time to reduce distractions and help students stay focused, while allowing teachers to reclaim instructional time. Once class starts, the devices are tucked away in pouches. "I will admit, I was a little nervous at the start of the school year, not knowing how it was going to unfold," said Sparrows Point High School Principal Emily Caster. The pilot program results will inform a new systemwide digital-use policy being developed this summer. It will go into effect next school year as Baltimore County schools join a nationwide movement to help children focus in the classroom. Getting used to the cellphone pilot program Teachers and students were at first skeptical of the cellphone policy. "At first, the kids didn't really enjoy it," said Jennifer Bodis, a teacher at Sparrows Point High School. "You know, it's a change. They didn't love it." Some students admitted that the adjustment was challenging. "Oh my God, my phone is getting blown up, I can hear the text messages ringing in my brain," said Kayla Rachuba, a rising 10th grader. "It was very inconvenient because all of my friends had left," said Ava Green, a rising senior. "So I couldn't really be on my phone. All my friends are in college now." Routines eventually formed. Students socialize briefly before class, then store their phones when the bell rings. "In the first five minutes, you can socialize, but as soon as the bell rings, you should put your phone up in the pouches and class just starts," said Chloe Bloom, a rising 11th grader. Change in classroom culture The cellphone restriction has been profound for the teachers. "On the most basic level, it just returns the focus to teaching and learning," Caster said. Bodis said that classroom culture has changed. "My class used to be very, very noisy," she said. "Then there was a time when you didn't hear the kids, and now the noise is back. It's good noise. It's productive noise." Spanish teacher Ashley Dauses noticed that the cellphone policy adds more to the students' social aspect, along with academic improvement. "It's really built up this sense of interpersonal communication skills," Dauses said. "And it's going to take them far in life." Results are showing While teachers appreciate the newfound focus, students are also starting to see results. "Look at all the missing assignments you don't have this quarter," Bodis said. "They've seen the benefit in that, and that's been great." Green said her academic performance improved. "My GPA actually got much better," she said. "I applied for more college classes. So I'm more focused on my college now, instead of on my phone worrying about Twitter."
Washington Post
17-05-2025
- Washington Post
What to know about Montgomery County schools' new rules for cellphones
Maryland's largest school system will restrict middle-schoolers from having their phones out during the school day starting in the fall. Montgomery County Public Schools is the latest district to revise its cellphone policies due to rising concerns that the electronic devices distract students from learning. At the beginning of this school year, the district restricted some websites from its servers and also launched a pilot program requiring students on some campuses to stow phones away all day. The pilot program's results were mixed but prompted a new districtwide policy.
