D-FW districts weigh safety and distractions in cellphone use policies
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The nationwide push to ban cellphones in K-12 classrooms has made its way to the Dallas area.
Why it matters: Phones are a key way for parents to stay in touch with their kids. But some students concede that their phone can be disruptive during class, and cyberbullying remains a persistent issue.
- Multiple studies have linked cellphone use among kids to stress, anxiety and depression.
Driving the news: Texas education commissioner Mike Morath has urged lawmakers to bar cellphones from public schools.
- "If it were in my power, I would have already banned them in all schools in the state. So I would encourage you to consider that as a matter of public policy," Morath told state senators at a hearing last month.
The big picture: Eight states have statewide bans or restrictions on cellphones in schools.
- The Texas Legislature could pursue a ban next year, if enough lawmakers agree on the issue.
Zoom in: Dallas ISD doesn't have a districtwide restriction on cellphone use and instead lets principals decide how to govern cellphone use, a DISD spokesperson tells Axios. A few schools are piloting secure pouches that students can put their phones in until dismissal.
- Frisco ISD lets individual teachers decide how to handle cellphones in their classroom.
- Grapevine-Colleyville ISD's elementary students must turn off their phones and stow them away during school hours. Middle schoolers can use them during lunch and high schoolers can use them during lunch and passing periods, per the district's handbook.
- The district's handbook acknowledges that phones can be a safety tool, but the restrictions aim to reduce distractions during the school day and minimize interruptions. Parents can still call the school to relay any urgent messages to their child.
The intrigue: Some districts, including Mansfield ISD, also confiscate phones and impose fees for unauthorized use.
The other side: Some parents disagree with the restrictions and say phones are often students' only line of communication with their families during the school day.
Zoom out: School districts from Florida to Los Angeles have banned cellphone use in school.