NWA schools ban cellphones under new Arkansas law
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Schools in NWA have new student cellphone policies ready to go ahead of the school year, the first since a new state law requiring restrictions went into effect.
The big picture: The Bell to Bell No Cell Act, signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in February, requires public schools to ban students from using cellphones and other devices during the school day, with exceptions for emergencies and in cases where the device is allowed per a student's education plan regarding their disability.
- The move came after a pilot program that included more than 100 school districts.
Zoom in: Rogers Public Schools students may store devices in backpacks, purses, lockers or vehicles and will not be allowed to use them during the school day, including between classes and lunch, spokesperson Jason Ivester told Axios.
- Springdale's policy allows students to keep their devices in bags or lockers but prohibits them from accessing them during the school day.
- Fayetteville, which already had a cellphone ban for elementary students, will now make its temporary rules banning devices for seventh- through 12th-grade students permanent, the Fayetteville Flyer reported. Each student will receive a lockable pouch to store their phone.
What they're saying: "We're fortunate to have already established a phone-free environment for our fifth- through 12th-grade students with tremendous results," Bentonville Public Schools spokesperson Leslee Wright told Axios in a statement.
- "We anticipate a seamless transition for our families," Wright added. "Students will be expected to store their phones in their backpacks throughout the day, and our teachers will ensure that their classrooms are cell-free, allowing students to focus on learning and social interactions."
Several states have implemented or considered school cell phone bans during the school day and received bipartisan public support.
- But some parents have expressed concern about not being able to reach their children during an emergency, Axios' April Rubin writes.
What's next: Students go back to school in mid-August.
