A moratorium on the new guidelines regarding student use of Personal Communication Devices

1). The new guidelines allow students to use cell phone at the high schools during lunch and between classes, a significant change in policy from previous years. With complete disregard for a due process, the portion of the guidelines describing this drastic change was amended to the publication just days before school started without any attempt to make a public announcement or solicit feedback.

2). The new guidelines were approved as a result of a pilot program that ran in three Howard County high schools last year. The Board failed to demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that this pilot program provided any benefit to students’ learning and educational outcomes.

3). Another pilot program is in place right now to further expand the use of these devices in the classroom. Personal communication devices can be a powerful educational tool. However, without a thoughtful approach, allowing the devices in classrooms will run the risk of becoming a distraction to the students, actually disrupting education.

4). Not all students have a smart phone or any cell phone or other device at all. A haphazard attempt to promote digital citizenship will accomplish little in achieving educational excellence if it cannot be evenly applied to all students. It will only deepen the digital divide and possibly increase the achievement gap in our schools.

5). Many high school students spend considerable time outside of school using their electronic devices. It is critical that they have time during the school day when they’re “unplugged”.