When middle and high school students in the State College Area School District return to school next week, they will be required to turn their phones off or put them on silent, according to the district’s new guidelines aimed at keeping students focused on class, preventing cyberbullying during the school day and promoting academic integrity.
The district does not prohibit cell phones in the high school or middle schools. For middle school students, cell phones must be turned off and kept in a backpack or locker. In the high school, cell phones must be out of sight during class. Cell phone use is not permitted in bathrooms.
State College Area High School Principal Laura Tobias said the administration received feedback from student leaders and worked with teachers on the new policy. She said students can leave their phones in their backpacks.
“You can have it during cafeteria time. You can have it during hallway transitions, but in the classrooms – we pride ourselves on our academic excellence – we will focus on teaching and learning,” she said.
Tobias said they also allow flexibility for high school teachers.
“Let’s say you want to use your phone for research in class. Or maybe there’s a moment between transitions and you say, ‘Okay, here’s a three-minute break, if you need to check your phone, go ahead.’ We give teachers the ability to set those boundaries in the classroom,” Tobias said.
In July, the state passed a law allowing districts to use money from the school safety fund to purchase lockable smartphone bags, which students in these schools put their phones in every day.
Jonathan Bucher, assistant superintendent for secondary schools in the State College Area, said the administration team decided not to go down that path.
“We want to work with our students and not be too restrictive. We want to find ways to use the phone when necessary without disrupting instruction and reducing concerns about social media that can lead to potential disciplinary issues,” he said.
Bucher said they would monitor actual incidents and adjust policies as needed.
Tobias said they would also seek feedback from teachers and students.
“Some students are going to have difficulty with this,” she said. “So how do we teach them how to use the phone and give them advice on how to use the phone properly?”
The district had already enacted policies prohibiting elementary school students from using their cell phones at school.
