Smart Devices

Officials from the Pennsylvania State Education Association, formerly opposed to any top-down mandate from the state, were among those who gave testimony in support of a “bell-to-bell” ban, with limited exceptions.

After this year, Oklahoma school boards will have the option to decide whether to keep their current phone-use restrictions in place. Based on results they're seeing so far, it seems likely that many will do so.

Since enacting restrictions on cellphones in school, educators are reporting positive trends in student engagement, discipline and academic achievement, and students have attested to improved focus and mental health.

Communities in the Denver suburbs are part of a pilot that uses highly accurate geo-fencing technology to track electric scooters and prompt users to deposit them in the correct parking locations.

The editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette argues for Pennsylvania joining at least 27 other states in restricting student use of cellphones during the school day, given the effects of such policies elsewhere.

There is no New Jersey law governing cellphones in schools, but school districts can win a minimum of $500 in grant funding from the state Department of Education for adopting bell-to-bell cellphone bans.

The University of Colorado Boulder launched a free mobile app for students, faculty and staff that can send emergency alerts and connect with local dispatch, mental health assistance and campus reporting services.

Given the results of school cellphone restrictions so far, some education leaders argue that overreliance on screens and devices in general is responsible for years of declines in student attention and achievement.

A new data intelligence platform is helping officials at Miami International Airport keep track of conditions and service needs at its nearly 200 public restrooms. The system provides workers with real-time updates.

Cellphone bans have been an easy win for everyone, because teachers already wanted phones out of their classrooms, most parents are concerned, and even many students say they wish social media had never been invented.

Jay Martin, director of School Safety & Security for the Nebraska Department of Education, warns that kids are learning cultural norms from social media instead of parents or their peers.

Education officials say Missouri's statewide cellphone ban at public and charter schools has brought consistency, focus and more social interaction. Some students agree, while others say they feel bored or limited.

Given the relative frequency of school shootings nationwide, Connecticut schools are fielding concerns from parents about whether and how they can reach their kids in an emergency.

Following New York City's partnership with T-Mobile last year, the city is working with T-Mobile and Dell to address the digital divide by giving more students access to personal computers.

Since state legislation started requiring Iowa schools to adopt policies on cellphones, administrators have reported a "great response," with teachers seeing a positive change and most students following directions.

A combination of capital budget reductions, a cut in federal funds, inventory control and loss-prevention issues caused a laptop shortage affecting middle and high schools in Richland County School District One.

With a localized approach to cellphone restrictions comes a varied set of obstacles — many students don't use lockers anymore, they rely on phones for communicating with parents, and unlocking Yondr pouches takes time.

Alabama's FOCUS Act bars students from using most personal devices at school. Some teachers say it was the best educational change in years or decades, and some parents say the change was easier than they anticipated.