The U.S. Department of Energy is encouraging states and local schools to adopt cell phone use policies

The U.S. Department of Education is encouraging states, school districts and schools to adopt policies regarding student cell phone use in schools.

“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,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

Along with the call for policy adoption, the department released a new guide to guide school officials in implementing cell phone use policies.

“I want our department to be a resource for school leaders,” Cardona said. That’s why we’re issuing a new guide to help education officials and local communities develop understandable and enforceable policies, prioritizing learning while keeping students safe.”

While the ministry recognizes that mobile phones can play an important role in keeping parents in touch with their children, particularly in emergencies, they say there is growing evidence to raise concerns about the impact of mobile phones in schools on students .

The Apache Junction Unified School District implemented its own cell phone policy this school year, telling students they must keep their cell phones in their backpacks or purses during class. Students are permitted to have these during break times and lunch breaks.

“I feel like our school does it almost perfectly so that you can have it during recess times and during cafeteria time and stuff like that,” said Riley, a senior at Apache Junction High School. “As long as you don’t flaunt it during class, you’re good. I think that’s the best way to do it.”

However, both Riley and junior Prescila say students were initially unhappy with the new policy. But the two students tell ABC15 they notice differences in the classroom.

“A lot of students are still very upset about it, but I personally like the cell phone policy because you see students interacting more with their teachers, interacting with other students and focusing more on class,” Prescila said.

There are consequences when students have their phones open in class. Lisa Ginn, principal at Apache Junction High School, said students will receive a warning first. If they do not comply, the phone may be confiscated and left in the school office for the student to pick up at the end of the school day. If that happens, Ginn said, the school will then involve parents.

“Every week we take one or two (cell phones). It’s not as common as it was at the beginning of the year. “It doesn’t happen as much anymore,” Ginn said.

Superintendent Robert Pappalardo said no students were sent to the alternative school at all this school year. Pappalardo said that typically if a student needs further discipline, they must go to an alternative school before returning to the regular high school. He believes that eliminating the distraction of cell phones positively impacts student behavior.

“The students basically follow the rules, get along with each other and don’t do things that would get them in trouble. We would say we need to move you somewhere else for a period of time so you can earn your way back into regular school,” Pappalardo said. “Because the culture on campus has changed.”

Ginn personally believes that cell phone use policies should have been introduced sooner.

“It’s the best thing we can do for teenagers today. “The teenagers…they’re too afraid of what’s going on on their phones during the day,” Ginn said.

The Dysart Unified School District currently has a committee addressing cell phone use in schools. Other districts like Mesa Public Schools also have them, but it varies from district to district and not all will follow suit.