Student Cell Phone Use In Schools Reexamined By HCPSS Leaders, Survey Open To Parents

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Parents have until Sept. 20 to complete a survey that provides input about the use of phones and other tech devices in schools.

Student use of personal technology has become a topic of conversation across the nation. The survey aims to pull information that will help reduce or eliminate the negative impacts on students.

Parents can review the school district's student personal device use online. It currently states that HCPSS allows students to bring personal technology devices to school with the following qualifications:

• Elementary schools
• Students will keep personal technology devices in backpacks during the school day, unless otherwise authorized by school administrators or instructional staff.
• Middle schools
• Students will not use personal technology devices during non-instructional time, to include but not limited to transition between classes, lunch, recess or in bathrooms.
• A school administrator may, on occasion, authorize the use of personal technology devices for special events and/or for positive behavioral supports and interventions.
• High schools
• Students may only use personal technology devices during classroom instruction when allowed by instructional staff; and
• May use personal technology devices during non-instructional time (transitions between classes, lunch or special events), unless prohibited by school administrators or instructional staff.