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Dear Southwest Families,
The purpose of this communication is to inform you about Southwest's student cell phone/personal electronic devices guidelines. The prevalence of cell phones and other personal electronic devices among students has increased significantly in recent years, but in the school environment, they can be distractions, interruptions, and tools for exchanging inappropriate information.
These guidelines create a more positive learning environment by allowing teachers the much needed freedom to focus on instructional delivery and student engagement without the distraction of personal electronic devices. At Southwest, we have found that limiting cell phone use during school is of great benefit to our students.
We know many families would like cell phones to be taken away for the day, but that practice would not be a match for MPS policy, which allows for student device use during non-classroom time. Families are free to enforce that practice on their own and urge students to keep their phones at home.
We will inform students of these guidelines upon their return to school, but we encourage families to discuss them prior to the first day of school. The support of families is critical to the success of these guidelines. Thank you, in advance, for that support.
Southwest Cell Phone/Personal Electronic Device Guidelines:
Southwest High School students may possess personal electronic devices at school, or at nonpublic school events off campus. Student use of personal electronic devices is limited to:
Before and after the regularly scheduled school day;
During the student’s scheduled lunch period;
During passing time between classes;
During class time when the classroom teacher permits the use for educational purposes only; and
During the school day by permission from the school principal or principal’s designee for personal purposes.
What it looks like:
At the beginning of each class period, all students will silence all personal electronic devices and place them in the designated cell phone holder in each classroom as directed by the teacher. Devices will remain in the designated holder until the end of class when students may collect them as directed by the teacher.
FAQs:
Q: If students leave the classroom during class time, can they take their devices with them?
A: No. Device use is not allowed during class time regardless of the student’s location. Student may take their device(s) if they are leaving school for the remainder of the day with parent permission.
Q: Are smartwatches and air pods/head phones considered electronic devices?
A: Yes.
Q: Is cell phone use allowed in bathrooms or locker rooms?
A: As per district policy, cell phone use of any kind is not permitted in bathrooms or locker rooms.
Q: What about students who must have phones with them based on a documented medical condition?
A: Those students must have their phones away and out of sight during class time. The nurse or case manager will notify teachers of those students.
Q: Who is responsible for damage or theft of electronic devices?
A: As per district policy, the school and staff are not responsible for any damage to or theft of a student’s cell phones/devices.
Key Definitions and Consequences
Intervention: If a student refuses to comply with the guidelines despite reasonable requests by the teacher, then a dean or AP will be contacted to talk with the student. If the student ultimately complies with the guidelines, the student remains in class and the dean/AP contacts home.
Offense: When an intervention is unsuccessful and the student refuses to comply with the guidelines.
1st Offense: Student removed from classroom; AP/dean contacts parent/guardian; devices may be retrieved by student at the end of the day from main office.
2nd Offense: Student removed from classroom; AP/dean contacts parent/guardian; devices may be retrieved by student at the end of the day from main office. Student is assigned to Detention After School (DAS).
3rd Offense: Student removed from classroom; AP/dean contacts parent/guardian; devices may be retrieved by parent/guardian at the end of the day from main office (or a plan is made with parents). Student is assigned to Detention After School (DAS).
Further offenses: Student removed from classroom; AP/dean contacts parent/guardian; devices may be retrieved by parent at the end of the day from main office (or a plan is made with parents). Student is assigned to Detention After School (DAS). Parent meeting is scheduled to create a behavior plan.
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 cellphones 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
The “Why”
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.
Creating a Better Classroom Environment
Cell phones disrupt the classroom environment, making it challenging for teachers to maintain control 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.
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.
Resources
AASA Article: A Mind Shift Over Cellphones in Schools
https://www.aasa.org/resources/resource/mindshift-over-cellphones-schools
District Electronic Device Policy:
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