Phone-Free Schools Policy

Have questions, concerns or ideas about a new phone policy? Share them in the ThoughtExchange conversation, which will be live through December 20. 

Why is our district considering a phone-free policy?

The Minnesota state legislature is requiring all school districts to adopt a cellphone use policy by March 2025. In Stillwater Area Public Schools, we’re considering a phone-free policy as a way to prioritize the academic success and emotional well-being of our students.

What will the policy look like?

District leaders will spend the coming months gathering feedback from students, staff, families and the community on the use of phones and personal devices at school. Concerns, questions and ideas from the public will be considered as a policy is drafted. In January and February, a draft policy will be shared with the public for additional feedback. The board will be approving a policy by March 2025 to meet the state of Minnesota’s requirement.

When would a new policy be implemented?

The school board is expected to approve a policy by March 2025 for implementation at the start of the 2025-26 school year.

Did You Know? In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health.

What might be included in a cellphone and personal electronic device definition?

• Cellphones (both phones that connect to the internet and non-internet connected phones that send and receive text messages, and make phone calls)
• Personal electronic devices such as electronic tablets and video games
• Airpods, earbuds and Bluetooth connected headphones
• Smartwatches and fitness trackers that connect to the internet

What if my child needs their phone in case of a crisis or lockdown at the school?

School security experts say phones can make children less safe in crisis situations for the following reasons:

• Student use of cellphones during an unfolding emergency can distract their attention from safety and emergency response directions being given by school staff.
• Cellphone use by students can hamper rumor control and, in doing so, disrupt and delay effective public safety personnel response.
• Alerts and light from a phone could actually alert an intruder to a student’s location.
• Cellphone use by students can impede public safety response by accelerating parental and community arrival at the scene of an emergency during times when officials may be attempting to evacuate students to another site.
• Victims and worried family members trying to get through can jam communications interfering with first responders.

[National School Safety and Security Services]

How would I contact my student during the school day?

Schools that have adopted phone-free policies have clearly defined communication procedures - much like we already have in our elementary schools. Most often, parents and/or guardians who need to contact their student or notify them of a change in schedule during the school day, may do so by calling the main office. 

Contacting your child via their phone or smartwatch during the school day distracts them from their studies and the needed in-person interaction with their teachers and peers.

What if my child needs to contact me during the school day?

If the student needs to contact their parent or guardian during the school day, a phone would be available in the main office.

Why is it important to allow our children to be independent during the school day?

Students need to be given independence from their parents or guardians during the school day to develop foundational skills. Constant contact can fuel a cycle of anxiety for both students and parents. Research shows encouraging independence fosters a child’s self-confidence, resilience, problem-solving ability, and mental health. [The Anxious Generation, Dr. Jonathan Haidt]

What about students who need their phone or device for medical reasons or to help with communication?

Some of our students do utilize phones or devices to manage their health or meet other specific learning needs, and they would be allowed to do so under a new phone-free policy. We would continue to honor Individualized Educational Plans (IEP) or 504 plans that requires the use of a personal device. 

The following research has been compiled by the Phone Free School Movement

2017 Brain Drain Study 

• Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity. See the study.
• Watch a two minute video summarizing the study.

Mental Health

• More than 3 hours a day on social media doubles the risk of poor mental health including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
• Phones prevent face-to-face communication: Research suggests face-to face interactions are linked to better mental health. Psychology Toda
• Rates of school loneliness have doubled since 2012. Worldwide Increases in Adolescent Loneliness
• Since 2010 young people have experienced a 134% increase in anxiety and a 106% increase in depression. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• 41% of teens with the highest social media usage rate their overall mental health as poor or very poor. American Psychological Association
• 22% of high school students have seriously considered suicide in the past year. 10% have attempted suicide in the past year. CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2023
• 95% of teachers say anxiety and depression is a problem in public K-12 schools. National Education Association

Problematic Usage

• 97% of students used their phones during school hours for an average of 43 minutes per day. Common Sense Media Constant Companion Report
• Nearly 60 percent of students said that they spend more than 10 percent of class time on their phones. Journal of Media Education 
• More than 50% of kids get 237 notifications per day — while some receive as many as 4,500 every day. About 23% of these notifications occurred during school hours. Common Sense Media Constant Companion Report
• Social media is nearly universal. 40% of 8-12 year-olds are on social media. 95% of teenagers are on social media. Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
• Teens spend nearly 5 hours a day on social media apps. American Psychological Association
• Each additional hour of screen time increases the odds of suicidal behavior. Science Direct

School Related Issues

• 72% of high school teachers report cell phones are a major distraction in the classroom. The Mere Presence of a Cell Phone May be Distraction
• Students not using their phones during class wrote down 62% more information. They also scored a full letter grade and a half higher on a multiple choice test. The Impact of Mobile Phone Usage on Student Learning
• 35% of teens admit to using their cell phones to cheat. Common Sense Media Constant Companion Report
• 87% of teachers said bullying is a problem in k-12 schools. 34% percent of middle school teachers call bullying a major problem. National Education Association