The state’s K-12 education department is encouraging districts to restrict or ban students’ cellphone use in schools, possibly moving toward a statewide mandate in the future.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley announced Tuesday that the department will “likely” create a matching grant program of up to $1 million for districts that pilot a cellphone restriction policy.
This is “not a mandate at this time,” he said, “but we’re certainly interested in piloting more of this.”
Riley invited teachers, administrators and students from schools that have instituted restrictions or bans to speak before the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education at their monthly meeting on Tuesday.
Some school representatives discussed their policies requiring students to give up their phones at the start of class. Other schools restrict phone use in hallways as…
