New Cell Phone Use Policy
Dear PPS community,
As a school district, we are committed to providing our students with the most positive and productive learning environment possible. The PPS Board of Education took a significant step toward this goal when they voted to ban cell phone use in schools for all students. This decision came after the Board spent months receiving feedback and public comment from educators, families, and students.
The ban applies to all personal electronic devices, such as cell phones, smartwatches, and tablets. It affects students of all grade levels and will be in effect for the entire school day, including lunch and passing time.
To be clear, this policy will be enforced beginning in the fall of 2025. This means that whatever cell phone policy your school currently has will most likely continue for the rest of the year. In the meantime, the district will be working closely with school leaders to ensure a smooth transition.
This work will include extensive engagement with families and students about how the policy will be implemented district-wide and on the individual school level.
District leaders are currently considering a range of options for cell phone storage, including:
Yondr pouches
Aluminum lockboxes
Classroom pocket charts/caddies
We will be evaluating the pros and cons of each option over the coming months. Your student’s school will be in touch with you as plans for device storage come further into focus.
As many of you know, many PPS schools have already implemented cell phone policies, and both students and educators have reported encouraging results. Our main concern is the well-being of our students, and an “off-and-away-all-day” approach to cell phone use is a supportive way to ensure that our classrooms remain distraction-free spaces where learning is always the top priority.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong, Superintendent
Dr. Jon Franco, Chief of Schools