U.S. Department of Education urges states, schools to set policies on cell phone use • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday called on all states, schools and districts to adopt policies on cell phone use in schools.

The department requires schools to have well-thought-out policies on the issue, but does not prescribe exactly what those policies should be. A companion resource for schools highlights the risk that social media can pose to students’ mental health.

“In this digital age, every elementary, middle and high school should have a clear, consistent and research-based policy governing the use of phones and personal devices in school,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a written statement.

“The evidence makes clear: There is no one-size-fits-all policy,” Cardona added, noting that “different school communities have different needs and the nuances of this issue require that local voices – parents, educators and students – inform local decisions about use personal devices at school.”

The department acknowledged the role that cell phones can play in keeping parents connected with their children, particularly in emergency situations, while highlighting the growing evidence that social media can affect adolescents’ mental health, such as sleep deprivation and depression.

Increasing state politics

A growing number of states and school districts have adopted policies that either ban or restrict students from using their cell phones in the classroom.

Across the country, schools and districts continue to grapple with how to address children’s cell phone use, and more than half of all states have attempted to ban or restrict cell phone use in classrooms.

According to KFF, as of early November, at least eight states had adopted statewide policies that either restrict or ban cell phone use in classrooms.

These include California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia. A Minnesota law requires schools to adopt a cell phone policy by March 2025.

A handful of other states’ departments of education have issued policy recommendations or pilot programs, while lawmakers in several more states have introduced statewide cell phone use laws.

The U.S. Department of Education’s guidance coincides with the release of a resource for education officials and local communities on establishing cell phone use policies.

In the playbook, Cardona refers to the public warning from US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in 2023 on the impact of social media on young people’s mental health.

Murthy warns: “More research is needed to fully understand the impact of social media; However, current evidence suggests that while social media may be beneficial for some children and adolescents, there is ample evidence that social media may also pose significant risks to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. “

Last updated on December 3, 2024 at 1:36 p.m