Denver kids go back to school Monday, and the state’s largest school district is launching its new state-mandated policy on personal communication devices.
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Denver Public Schools’ rules prohibit the use of cell phones, earbuds, smartwatches and tablets during school hours. They must be powered off and put away throughout the school day. The ban applies to all grade levels.
The district developed the guidelines based on committee recommendations after a state law passed last year mandating that all Colorado schools adopt restrictions.
Officials say the goal is to create a more present and engaged classroom.
“We had an opportunity to create an environment that would foster the skills that we're really looking for in terms of being more present with the academic learning, having individuals be engaged fully with their learning experience, and hopefully to build some of the social skills that may not have been as conducive to build when individuals might all be sitting at the same table but just scrolling on a device,” DPS Director of Operational Services Scott Wolf said.
A recent study found that U.S. schools with device restrictions saw dramatic reductions in cell phone use and distractions. Student performance hasn’t shown much movement yet, but researchers say academic progress is known for being slow and the study is based on only a few years of data.
A growing number of Colorado school districts have enacted bans similar to the new DPS policy in an attempt to get classrooms under control and protect students’ mental health from the effects of social media.
Centaurus High School in Boulder County has had all-day restrictions on cell phones since last year; faculty and students alike sang the policy’s praises to KUNC’s Leigh Paterson. Also last year, Summit High School in Breckenridge started requiring students to store their phones in lockable pouches.
Wolf says parents don’t need to be concerned about reaching their child in case of an emergency. The district’s schools have safety plans in place and can relay messages to families.
“If there's a safety situation happening at the school site, we want to commit as the district to communicating with families about what is going on as soon as we have those facts,” he said.
Wolf said while the new rules represent a dramatic change, he is hopeful about implementation.
“There's been states and districts and schools that have come before us with similar policies, and they all seem to report that things go a whole lot smoother than people anticipate them going,” Wolf said. “We believe in our students and our community to follow expectations.”
