Hold The Phone: County Schools Adopt New Cellphone Policy

Starting this upcoming school year, students across Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) will be able to use their cellphones less during the school day. AACPS shared the decision by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell on Monday, citing a need to maximize focus on instruction, remove distractions, and improve mental health.

Here are the new guidelines:

• Elementary and middle school students must have their phones off or on silent mode and out of sight throughout the school day, including at lunch and in hallways during transitions between classes.
  
  
• High school students may use their phones during lunch but must have them off or on silent mode and out of sight at all other times, including in hallways during transitions between classes.

“I want to be clear that this is not a ban on cellphones like other districts across the country have done,” Bedell said. “These are changes in guidelines as part of an effort to refocus precious time on instruction, which is something everyone we spoke with agreed is critically important. I have complete faith that our students, provided with the right structure, will do the right thing. However, as the superintendent, I will not hesitate to have further conversations with the school board and the community about a total ban should that become necessary.”

Students who use cellphones outside of the guidelines will receive a warning followed by the confiscation of their phone and potential other disciplinary measures if necessary. Confiscated phones will need to be picked up by a parent or guardian.