Arkansas public school districts are set to implement a cell phone restriction initiative during school hours, with the state Department of Education allocating $7 million for locking devices. The initiative aims to create a phone-free environment to evaluate its impact on student learning, engagement, and health.
The pilot program, announced by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Education Secretary Jacob Oliva in July, will also provide grant funding for mental health services and support for students. The funding will cover the cost of metal lockers and magnetically-sealed cloth pouches from YONDR, a California-based company focused on creating phone-free spaces.
The pouches can be locked and unlocked by adults while students keep them in their possession at all times. Schools in Arkansas have varying cell phone policies, with some collecting phones at the start of class and others allowing access after assignments are completed.
The initiative has already shown success in Bentonville West High School, with a reduction in offenses and positive feedback from staff. Sanders has been a vocal advocate for reducing social media use among teenagers due to concerns about mental health issues. The University of Arkansas’ Office for Education Policy will study how reduced access to phones impacts students’ mental health, focusing on a smaller group of districts from the pilot program.
Legislation might be introduced in January requiring all school districts in Arkansas to lock up students’ phones during the school day, according to House Speaker Pro Tempore Jon Eubanks. The initiative is part of a growing trend across the country to regulate smartphone use among students.
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Photo credit arktimes.com
