In just a few weeks, the Platte County School District will join public schools across Missouri and 31 other U.S. States in limiting students’ access to cell-phones during classes.
A growing number of leaders in education and policymakers across the country have been encouraging these restrictions on cell-phones in schools for many years due to correlations between excessive cell-phone use being linked to reduced attention span and lower academic performance.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 68, which requires all school districts to adopt a policy restricting students’ use of electronic personal communication devices during the school day. The bill was signed into law on July 9 and will take effect on Aug. 28.
The Platte County School District believes that going cell-phone free will create a more focused learning environment for every student.
“At Platte County School District, we’re proud to be moving to a cell-phone free environment to support focused learning, respectful interactions, and a safe, welcoming school climate,” Director of Communications, Platte County School District, Laura Hulett, said in a press release.”This means students will keep their personal devices put away during the school day so they can fully engage in learning and social connections.”
The school district’s focus is on coaching students toward responsible use of personal devices, while keeping classrooms free from distractions.
To support the new school year’s cell-phone free learning environment, student devices must be off/silenced and out of sight from the first bell to the final dismissal bell, including: during class, during lunch, breaks and recess, between classes/passing periods, and during study hall and assemblies.
Any portable device used to send, receive, store, or view communication, information, or images, including: cell-phones, smartwatches, wireless headphones or earbuds, gaming devices and personal laptops and tablets are considered personal devices.
There will also be some exceptions for the use of personal devices, which include: when required by a student’s Individualized Education Plan or 504 Plan (reach out to your case manager, counselor, or principal for support), in a documented medical emergency, before the school day begins and after the school day ends, and when authorized by a teacher or administrator for an approved educational purpose.
During school hours, devices will need to be powered off/silenced and stored securely during the school day. Schools may designate appropriate storage options such as: in student backpacks (zipped and stowed away), and in lockers, when available.
The school district’s goal is to support students in making responsible choices in regard to the new cell-phone rules. If a student isn’t complying with the cell-phone-free plan the first offense will be handled by the classroom teacher or staff member. The student will receive a verbal warning/reminder.
The second offense will be addressed at the office level. The device will bekept in the office for the rest of the school day and returned to the student. The parent/guardian will be contacted.
Continued non-compliance will result in office-level intervention. The device will remain in the office for the remainder of the school day and a parent will be contacted to pick up the device. The consequence for the student may be lunch/after-school detention or in-school suspension. Repeated offenses may result in the creation of a Device Plan, which will require the student to check in their device at the office each morning and pick it up at the end of the day.
If a parent needs to contact a student during the school day, they can call the school’s main office and school staffs will ensure their message is delivered promptly, or the student will be brought to the office if needed.
“In the event of an emergency, students will always have access to communication through staff and the school office,” Hulett said. “Creating a cell-phone-free environment does not mean students are cut off, it means communication happens through the appropriate, safe channels, so learning stays uninterrupted.”