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Cell Phone-Free Instructional Environment

Protecting Instructional Time in the Lawrence Public Schools

Policy JCAA: Cell Phones and Electronic Devices

November - December 2024

Background Information and Guidance

 

Policy Change Supports Student Learning

Lawrence Public Schools will implement a Cell Phone-Free Instructional Day beginning January 6, 2025, to prioritize and enhance focus on teaching and learning.

The Lawrence Board of Education and Superintendent are taking clear action on this issue for one reason: to prioritize the work of the classroom, minimize distractions in the learning environment, and support our students and teachers in maximizing the learning, creativity, and growth of our students.

With the implementation of Board Policy JCAA: Cell Phones and Electronic Devices and associated district guidance, the Board and Superintendent will support teachers with a districtwide expectation rather than leaving decisions about student use of cell phones to individual teachers’ discretion. The ‘phones away’ approach is the district’s clear expectation, reiterated in policy and supported in guidance and our practice across classrooms and schools to enable teachers to teach and students to learn.

Science supports an ‘Away For The Day’ policy. Research demonstrates that when students are not free to access their phones during school hours, they are more engaged socially and academically.

Why implement a cell phone-free instructional day?

The Research

Research supports the implementation of a school cell phone-free policy, highlighting its positive effects on student focus and academic performance. Key findings include:

Distraction and Academic Performance

The Pew Research Center (2024) reported that 72% of U.S. high school teachers consider cell phone distraction a major problem in classrooms. Research published in Computers in Human Behavior demonstrated that college students who used cell phones during class scored lower on tests and had overall poorer grades than those who did not use phones during instructional time (Kuznekoff et al., 2015).

Impact on Learning and Comprehension

A Rutgers University (2018) study revealed that students permitted to use electronic devices during lectures scored lower on exams than their peers, indicating that device usage can impair learning.

Mental Health Considerations

The U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory highlighting the adverse effects of excessive social media use on youth mental health (Financial Times, 2024). Excessive smartphone use has been associated with increased anxiety and depression among adolescents, reinforcing the benefits of limiting phone use during school hours (Twenge & Campbell, 2018).

"Away for the Day" Policies are Working in Schools - Hear the Stories. 

Policies encouraging students to keep their phones "Away for the Day" have improved concentration, classroom behavior, academic results, and social development (Screenagers, 2016). Schools adopting these policies report positive changes, with increased focus and healthier social interactions among students.

Learn more by viewing these voices of change and submit your "Away for the Day" story to info@screenagersmovie.com.

  1. Improved Academic Focus: Studies show that reducing distractions, like cell phones, improves student focus and academic performance.
  2. Social-Emotional Learning: Removing phones encourages students to engage more deeply in in-person social interactions and makes space for building face-to-face communication skills.
  3. Mental Health Considerations: Reducing screen time can help diminish stress, anxiety, and pressures resulting from the overuse of social media, supporting overall student well-being.
  4. Minimizing Disruptions: Phones are a significant source of distraction in the classroom, distracting from the work of the teacher, interrupting the student using them, and potentially diverting the attention of others in the classroom. Keeping phones stored during instructional time supports and optimizes an environment for learning.

Lawrence Public Schools Cell Phone Expectations

Lawrence Public Schools will implement a Cell Phone-Free Instructional Day beginning January 6, 2025, to prioritize and enhance focus on teaching and learning.

Student Cell Phone Expectations

Cell phones and personal electronic devices must be off and stored out of sight during instructional hours; devices should not be seen, heard, or interfere with instruction.

Elementary Students, PK-5th Grades

Personal technology devices (cell phones, smart watches, earbuds, etc.) must be kept in backpacks. Cell phone use or personal electronic devices are not allowed during the scheduled school day for early childhood through fifth-grade students.

Middle Schools Students, Grades 6-8

Student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices at the middle school level is prohibited during class time and passing periods. Principals may use their discretion when deciding on device use during lunch periods.

Administrative Discretion: Principals, in collaboration with their school teams, determine when personal devices may be utilized outside instructional times, such as field trips.

High School Students, Grades 9-12

Student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices at the high school level is prohibited during class time unless utilized for a specific instructional purpose, as directed by the teacher. However, high school students can use personal electronic devices during non-instructional activities, i.e., lunch and passing periods.

Administrative Discretion: Principals, in collaboration with their school teams, determine when personal devices can be used outside the instructional day, such as field trips or activities.

All Students

Students may use personal electronic devices during the scheduled school day in emergencies or, if necessary, for the student’s physical health.

The policy applies to all students and includes flexibility for high school students. For example, cell phones are prohibited all day for elementary students, but high school students may use their phones during designated times, such as passing times and at lunch, reflecting an age-appropriate increased level of responsibility.

Guidelines for Responsible Phone Use

Alternatives for Communication and Technology

  • Mindful Usage: Please use phones responsibly, avoiding excessive screen time and ensuring it does not disrupt others.
  • Respectful Behavior: Consider others around you and maintain a positive atmosphere.
  • Responsible Digital Citizenship: Maintain online safety and refrain from cyberbullying.
  • School-provided technology will be available for instructional use when necessary.
  • School office phones allow students to contact family members during the day. Parents and guardians can reach students in emergencies by calling the school’s main office, ensuring timely communication without requiring student cell phone use.