MCPS tests all-day cell phone restrictions – NBC4 Washington

Maryland’s largest school district is testing a new cell phone policy this year.

Montgomery County Public Schools wants to limit cell phone use during school hours.

“It was really disturbing, you know, to see a classroom where someone is trying to teach and talk to the students, and the other kids are playing games or messaging on their phones and completely tuning out of the lesson,” said district superintendent Marc Elrich.

MCPS’s current mobile device policy states that elementary school students are not allowed to leave their cell phones out during the day.

In middle school, principals and teachers can determine whether students can remove devices during lunch or for class-related reasons.

High school students are also allowed to use them during lunch and transition periods.

As part of a new pilot program, students at several schools are not allowed to use their cell phones at all during the school day.

“We have contacted a number of interested schools interested in testing a more restrictive environment where cell phones are removed throughout the day,” said Stephanie Sheron, director of strategic initiatives at MCPS.

It is part of a comprehensive study to find out how it could work nationwide.

“Our goal is to look at our policies this spring to determine what changes may be needed for the next school year,” Sheron said.

To minimize distractions and improve student focus in class, students will not be able to access social media sites such as Instagram, Snapchat, or X while using the MCPS network this year.

“No one needs to have their phone on in the classroom,” Elrich said. “No one needs to play games, text or use social media in the classroom. That should be unacceptable, and it was disappointing that it wasn’t done sooner.”

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