Before you know it, summer will be over and a new school year will be upon us. As parents and teachers prepare for the new year, many districts are implementing new procedures and policies to ensure a safe and healthy year.

As schools across the country look for ways to improve the educational experience, Fenton Area Schools is joining the pack with a new cell phone policy for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. The new initiative aims to minimize distractions and maximize learning in the district.

Fenton Area Schools issued a letter to district parents this week explaining the new cell phone policy. The letter states that the school board adopted the new policy after receiving feedback from teaching staff, researching cell phone use in the classroom with resources from GISD, and incorporating research information.

“Our primary goal is to create a learning environment that is focused, stimulating, and promotes academic and social-emotional well-being for all students. Recent research has increasingly highlighted the negative impacts of cell phone use during class. Studies show that cell phones can be a significant distraction and impair the ability to concentrate and retain information. In addition, research suggests a link between constant cell phone notifications and increased anxiety in young people. We believe it is critical to create a space where students can be present in the moment, free from the anxieties associated with social media and digital distractions,” the letter said.

What is the new cell phone policy in Fenton area schools?

Starting on the first day of school, cell phones in the Fenton district must be turned off and stowed in lockers or backpacks during all classes. Students in grades 6-12 will have designated times during lunch and before and after school to access their phones. They can view the full Letter here.

Fenton is not the first district in the area to enact a cell phone policy for its schools. In January, Flint Community Schools implemented a cell phone and hoodie policy for the entire district. The ban applies not only inside school buildings, but also on buses.

Since this policy appears to be widespread not only in Michigan but across the country, it may sooner or later become the norm in our schools.