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The new law requires school districts to establish cell phone policies

Posted on by darion

ASHLAND — Ashland High School changed its cell phone policy last summer after receiving feedback from teachers about students’ use of personal devices, Principal Josh Packard told the school board.

The policy change would still allow students to use personal devices before and after school, during lunch, between classes and potentially in study halls.

However, the use of phones would be prohibited during classes.

“We want them to focus on teachers and what they are learning, so their cell phones and personal electronic devices must be out of sight during academic activities,” Packard said.

According to a 2023 Common Sense report, 97% of students used electronic devices during school hours. The report found that internet use varied, with students logging on for less than one minute to six and a half hours, for an average of 43 minutes.

Typically, however, rules on the use of these devices fall under individual school or district policy, as was the case with changes to Ashland High School’s handbook last summer.

But on May 15, Ohio became the latest state to begin setting cellphone use requirements in schools when Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 250 into law.

(Below is a PDF of the text of the bill. The section on cell phone policy begins on page 10.)

The bill, which passed unanimously in both the state Senate and House of Representatives, required district boards of education to adopt “policies regulating student use of cell phones during school hours.”

House Bill 250 states that policy should emphasize limiting student cell phone use as much as possible during school hours. It also states that the new policy should “limit cell phone-related distractions in the classroom.”

The state has published a model policy that districts can adopt or create their own, as long as they comply with the provisions of the bill.

Districts whose policies already meet the new requirements will also not have to change their policies.

Ashland County District Politics

Ashland Source contacted superintendents of all public school districts in the county about the new legislation.

Superintendents from Ashland City Schools, Hillsdale Local Schools, Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools and Mapleton Local Schools said each of their districts has cell phone policies on the books.

Districts do not have to adopt new rules under House Bill 250 until July 1, 2025. So the current rules will likely remain in place for the next school year. Each district’s current policy limits the use of cell phones during school hours.

Ashland City Schools

Ashland City Schools Board of Trustees Steve Paramore said every building in the district has a board-approved cell phone policy.

At the high school, whose policy was approved by the board last July, students can use personal electronic devices before school, during class changes, during lunch and after school.

Depending on students’ grades and behavior, they may be able to use devices in classrooms or during Arrow activities. The use of devices during classes is prohibited without the teacher’s consent.

Ashland Middle School’s 2022-2023 student handbook states that students “are not permitted to use personal communication devices during school hours.” Telephones should be stored in lockers in silent mode.

The handbook states that exceptions may be granted to students with medical conditions in individual circumstances.

The district’s 2023-2024 elementary school handbook requires students’ cell phones to remain turned off when they enter a school building. Phones should be stored in backpacks or lockers.

For primary school students, this policy covers school transport.

Hillsdale

Extra. Catherine Trevathan with Hillsdale Community Schools said the current Hillsdale handbook includes a cell phone policy. She shared this policy:

Because we in the Hillsdale School District focus on academic achievement, the use of cell phones and/or any electrical devices is limited to situations before school starts, while sitting in the cafeteria during a student’s lunch hour, after school hours, and after obtaining permission for use by a student. administrator, teacher or staff member and when a teacher announces/requires the use of any electronic device in the classroom.

Loudonville-Perrysville Rural Schools Exempt

Jennifer Allerding, superintendent of Loudonville-Perrysville schools, said the district is in the process of updating its textbooks.

Allerding said the district has discussed moving to a no-cellphone policy in all classrooms and areas.

“I believe that most teachers understand the negative impact that cell phones have on the school environment,” Allerding said. “It is important for our students to disconnect from each other to engage in learning, socializing and being present.”

The current cell phone policy states that students in grades 7-10 are not allowed to have cell phones on or in use during the school day.

11th and 12th grade students may use phones in the cafeteria during lunch or in the hallways between classes. As the handbook states, teachers have discretion over telephone use.

(Below is a copy of the Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools student handbook. Cell phone policy is on page 14.)

Mapleton Local Schools

In Mapleton Community Schools, the district’s cell phone policy prohibits students from using “electronic communications devices” during class without permission.

(Below is a copy of Mapleton’s policy.)

Like Loudonville-Perrysville and Hillsdale, students can use their devices outside of school hours. This applies both before and after school, as well as during lunch.

Mapleton’s policy also states that students can use the devices on school buses and other district transportation.

However, students are also responsible for following directions given by teachers, administrators, bus and coach drivers, counselors, or other supervisors.

Extra. Scott Smith said the district will work with its legal counsel to determine any changes to make to its policy after receiving further guidance from the state Office of Education and Workforce Development.

This independent, local reporting provided by our America Corps Member Report is made available to you in part thanks to your generous support Ashland County Community Foundation.