Cell Phone Policy

Eagan High School believes in the power of building strong, positive relationships with students, cultivating students' skills and abilities, and helping them learn how to successfully engage and contribute to the world around them.

Hello Eagan H.S. Families,

We hope this message finds you well! We’re excited to share some important information about our cell phone policy here at EHS. We believe that these guidelines will create a better learning environment for our students and help them stay focused and engaged.

As more research around the impacts of cell phone use of adolescents is being published we understand that it can lead to increased mental health issues in adolescents. As protecting and supporting the mental health of our students is a priority, we believe that limiting cell phone use during school will assist us in these endeavors.

Thank you in advance for partnering with us to support what we believe to be an essential step in developing relationships and creating a more focused learning environment. Last school year this policy was effective for learners and teachers. We believe growing these skill-sets will assist students greatly both now and in the future.

As always, feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Grade 12 Dr. Tara Hedlund tara.hedlund@district196.org

Grade 11 Mr. Stephen Thompson stephen.thompson@district196.org

Grades 9 and 10 Mr. Stacy Jameson stacy.jameson@district196.org

Thank you,

Dr. Polly Reikowski paulette.reikowski@district196.org

Principal

All learning spaces will have a numbered phone caddy for students who bring a cell phone, into which they will place their phones during each class period. Between classes, during lunch times and before and after school, we will continue to allow students to use their cell phones.

Students have a school-issued iPad which provides them access and communication (school email) to resources to support learning. Personal phones and devices are not needed during instructional time.

Legislation passed during the 2024 Minnesota State Legislative session:

A school district or charter school must adopt a policy on students’ possession and use of cell phones in school by March 15, 2025. The Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association and the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals must collaborate to make best practices available to schools on a range of different strategies in order to minimize the impact of cell phones on student behavior, mental health, and academic attainment.

Minn. Stat. § 121A.73

Eagan High School's policy is already in compliance.

Eagan High School has successfully implemented a policy that requires student cell phones and personal devices to not be used during class time.

Students will have the flexibility to access their cell phone and devices during passing time between each class, during lunch and before and after school.

Parents/guardians needing immediate contact with students may, as always, call the office at 651-683-6900 and ask for an immediate message or contact with their student.

Note: We understand there may be circumstances when students will need access to their phones:

• Students who use their cell phone or smart watch to monitor a medical condition (i.e. diabetes, epilepsy) may have their cell phone or watch with them at all times. This will be verified in the health plan on record with the school.
• Depending on a student's unique personal situation, students may access their phones during class with teacher permission. This will be agreed to with permission only.
• If your student does not have a cell phone, please have your student inform their teacher.

Relationships Matter

Creating meaningful relationships with others is a continued focus of our purpose and guiding principles at Eagan High School. Relationships in school are important factors in maximizing a student's learning and social and emotional development. Research indicates that cell phones create significant challenges, barriers, and distractions that deter from building these important relationships.

A Focused Learning Environment Matters

Maintaining a focused and engaged learning environment in our classrooms is essential in helping students learn. Cell phones and devices distract students during valuable learning activities that take place in the classroom both with teachers and peers. Learning can be difficult and distractions only make these opportunities more challenging. Effective management of these tools is critical, as is instilling a sense of responsibility and digital citizenship in our students. As they progress through our educational system, it is essential to provide age-appropriate guidance on the use of social media, helping them understand its impact on their mental health, academic performance, and social interactions. By working together, we can ensure our students develop the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the digital world responsibly and successfully. More importantly, we can provide a distraction-free classroom environment where students can thrive academically.

Proximity Matters

Proximity to the cell phone or personal device in the classroom can have an effect on learning, brain development and academic focus. Research indicates that quick accessibility to a cell phone in a pocket, on a desk or in a backpack, can still cause distractions for students by diverting their attention away from learning and other important tasks. Again, this diverts our focus during valuable learning activities that take place in the classroom both with the teacher and peers.

Improving Academic Performance

Recent research has shown that cell phone use in the classroom is a significant source of distraction. A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology (2020) found that students who frequently use their cell phones in class tend to have lower academic performance. Similarly, an article in Education and Information Technologies (2022) emphasized that multitasking with cell phones negatively affects information retention and understanding.

Enhancing Mental Health

Excessive cell phone use has been linked to increased anxiety and stress among students. Research from the Behavioral Sciences (2023) indicates that the pressures of constant connectivity and social media can lead to mental health issues. A study in Clinical Psychological Science (2022) also found that students who use cell phones during class are more likely to experience social isolation and depression.

Creating a Better Classroom Environment

Cell phones disrupt the classroom environment, making it challenging for teachers to instruct and for students to focus on learning. A review in the Journal of Computers in Education (2020) concluded that cell phones lead to increased incidents of cheating and reduced participation in class discussions. Moreover, an article in Education Science (2024) found that cell phone policies can improve the learning environment by promoting more face-to-face interactions among students.

Supporting Effective Teaching

Surveys and studies have shown that both teachers and students recognize the disruptive nature of cell phones in the classroom. Education Science (2024) revealed widespread support for measures to limit cell phone use and highlighted that teachers feel more empowered and effective when cell phone use is restricted.

See additional Resources at bottom of newsletter

The Distracting Draw of Smartphones

A new study finds that a person's attention is depleted just by having a smartphone in sight.

Away for the Day Website

https://www.awayfortheday.org

AASA Article: A Mind Shift Over Cellphones in Schools

https://www.aasa.org/resources/resource/mindshift-over-cellphones-schools

Book Study: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt ©2024

United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health