More than 200 Arkansas school districts are taking part in a new pilot program aimed at reducing cell phone access to improve students’ mental health. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Education Secretary Jacob Oliva invited superintendents to participate in the program, which will examine the impact of reduced cell phone and social media use on mental health. The University of Arkansas’ Office for Education Policy will conduct a study as part of the pilot, with Bentonville West High School already seeing success with a similar program last year.
The pilot program will provide funding for phone storage devices to reduce screen time and social media use during the school day, as more exposure to social media increases the risk of mental health problems. An initial small group of schools further along in implementing policy changes will be reimbursed directly, while other districts will be reimbursed through their education cooperatives. Additionally, the program will offer funding for telehealth mental health services and support for locating mental health providers.
Research on the effects of cell phones and social media on students’ mental health is limited, with the University of Arkansas working on a year-long study to analyze the impact of the pilot program. Calls for more research are being made at the national level, and senators have introduced legislation to study the use of mobile devices in schools. Fayetteville School District plans to implement phone restrictions for all K-12 students in the upcoming school year, with an initial focus on 7-12th grades. Overall, the pilot program seeks to prioritize students’ mental health and well-being by reducing screen time and social media use during the school day, with a focus on implementing effective policies and practices in Arkansas schools.
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