School-wide smartphone bans continue to gain popularity this year. The Greeley-Evans School District 6 is already in its fifth year of enforcing a policy designed to limit classroom distractions. Superintendent Deirdre Pilch says it’s successful to this day.
District Administration recently sat down with Pilch to learn more about her district’s smartphone policy and how other leaders can replicate it.
Note: The following transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Let’s start with some background. When was your district’s cell phone policy implemented and what are the specifics?
Our district’s cell phone policy was established in 2009 and updated in 2019 to regulate cell phone use and limit classroom distractions and disruption during instructional time. With the onset of the 2024 school year, we re-committed to our existing policy to restrict cell phones from being out in our high school classrooms. During instruction, their phones are put away. In between classes and during lunch time, they’re free to use them.
High school teachers and administrators agreed to come together to consistently enforce the cell phone policy and procedures. This allowed us to lead productive conversations with high school students about keeping phones out of class. If the phone is out in class, the teacher asks the student to put it away. If the student needs to be reminded, an administrator is called to the classroom and the phone must be picked up by the parent.
In our K8 classes, students are not allowed to use phones at all during the school day. Phones are not an issue in our elementary, K8 or middle schools.
Districts around the country are implementing similar smartphone policies, citing concerns over mental health and classroom disruptions. How has your policy impacted your schools?
Our policy has increased student engagement in the classroom by reducing distractions and creating a more focused learning environment in our classrooms. Students are participating more actively in lessons and discussions.
There has been no significant backlash because students still have the opportunity to check their phones during passing periods and lunch. Students comment that they feel valued and it is a fair policy. Our students do understand that phones in the classrooms are a disruption. They seem to realize our expectations are reasonable.
Do you have any advice for leaders who have yet to adopt such a policy? Where can they start to develop one and what should those discussions look like?
Start by gathering input from administrators, teachers, students and parents to understand their concerns and expectations. This approach ensures the policy addresses everyone’s needs and gets buy-in from all.
Focus discussions on how limiting phone use can enhance learning in the classroom, which is the priority, and possibly allow phone access during breaks. Finally, keep your board of education informed and in the conversation.
