Washington state’s schools chief is asking districts to find ways to reduce students’ cellphone use — part of a growing movement to crack down on personal devices in classrooms.
Why it matters: Teachers and some experts say smartphones can distract students, hurt academic performance and hinder developing social skills.
The big picture: Several states — including Florida , Indiana , Louisiana and South Carolina — recently enacted policies restricting student cellphone use in schools, as did the Los Angeles Unified School District .
The latest: Chris Reykdal, Washington’s superintendent of public instruction, issued guidance last week asking the state’s 295 school districts to craft policies limiting student cellphone use by next fall.
- “Reducing the use of cellphones in class improves concentration and learning, improves mental and physical health, and reduces pressures caused by social media,” Reykdal said in a news release .
Yes, but: Some efforts to limit phones in schools have met resistance from parents who want to be able to stay in touch with their kids — especially in case of a school shooting, like the one that happened in Georgia this week.