Smart Devices

While the Oklahoma Legislature considers a ban for cellphones during the day for all the state's public schools, various districts have their own policies requiring that they be stored during instructional time.

The technology of refrigeration changed not just what and how we eat, but also the economy, international trade and even the atmosphere. When educators teach students about AI, they need to think beyond computers.

While Maine state officials discuss potential legislation, a group called Phone-Free Portland Schools is advocating for a policy that would ban cellphones at all grade levels throughout the school day.

After voters declined to pass a larger ballot proposal last year, Helena Public Schools are asking voters to approve a smaller amount to replace aging laptops, desktops and teacher devices.

The state's Legislative Audit Council says USC misused $4,589 in grant money intended for computer labs, while the university says those watches are part of teaching and understanding Apple's technology ecosystem.

The editorial board of the Baltimore Sun argues that school cellphone restrictions are needed, as mental health professionals are increasingly concerned about how overuse of the devices can harm a child’s development.

A bill introduced to the House of Representatives this week would ban cellphones from school classrooms, with exceptions for students with disabilities or other needs, such as lack of English language proficiency.

Digital technology, AI and the dopamine loop that drives our constant connectivity are undermining the quality of students' attention. There's an old solution: social connection, deep reading and tuning out tech.

A sophomore at Asbury University felt her mental health problems and attentiveness improved when she locked her iPhone in a drawer for all but essential tasks and switched to using a flip phone.

The Oregon House of Representatives will vote on a bill to restrict K-12 students from using cellphones between the first and last bells of the school day and spells out consequences for those who violate the rules.

A 2023 law prevents Northwestern School Corporation from charging student fees to pay for devices, so the school board is pursuing a $1.5 million bond project to cover the cost of new iPads for students.

New legislation in Alabama bans K-12 students from using portable communication devices on campus during the school day and requires that they be trained on the risks of social media.

Some parents oppose legislation that would ban cellphones in Georgia public schools, arguing that the devices are essential for communicating with their kids in the event of a school shooting.

Greenwich Public Schools are restricting access to YouTube on school-issued devices for grades pre-K-5, largely at the request of elementary principals who saw the app as an unnecessary distraction for young children.

Since reorienting so much class time around screens, schools have seen lower student proficiency and fostered increasingly isolated childhood experiences, which studies show correlate with rising anxiety and depression.

A high school in Connecticut will require students to display Yondr pouches and ensure they are locked before entering the building. If a student is found to be lying about not having a phone, consequences will follow.

The Georgia Senate is considering a bill that would ban cellphones in elementary and middle schools. Lawmakers say restrictions for high schools may follow once today's younger students are used to going without phones.

The Gen Z representative who authored the bill, which would give local district leaders some control over their own policies, told colleagues she remembered how distracting phones were when she was in school.