CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Eastern Iowa’s public schools have been in session for almost a month, and many districts and their students have been adjusting to Iowa’s new cell phone law.
That law bans students from using their cell phones during class.
TV9 checked in with the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Community School Districts to see how students are handling the change.
The Cedar Rapids Community School District prohibits students from having a phone or smart watch at any time during the school day.
Emily Brandt, a senior at Kennedy High School, said its been an easier adjustment than she thought it would be.
“Since nobody else is pulling out their phones, you’re not as tempted to,” Brandt said.
Kennedy’s principal, Jason Kline, said students are adjusting well to the new rule.
He said about 10 to 20 phones are confiscated every day.
“It’s been very surprising to see students in the cafeteria refraining from using the phone during lunch,” Kline said. “It’s been very surprising, even the first day of school, to not see cell phones in the hallway,” he said.
Kline said the new rule did concern some parents because they feared they wouldn’t be able to communicate with their child during the day – especially with the recent national school shootings.
But many students have found a way.
“I pull out my Chromebook and email. That’s what I would do. That’s how I communicate with my mom during the day now,” Brandt said.
The Iowa City Community School District took a different approach in implementing its new cell phone policy.
“We felt that it was appropriate and reasonable to have students have their phones or access to their phones during lunch, their open periods, and passing time,” West High School principal Mitch Gross said.
Gross said the policy is working well, only an average of five students get their phones taken away each day.
And if a student is caught on their phone, the teacher isn’t wasting instructional time to confiscate it. They simply send an email and someone comes and takes care of it.
“Teachers will email that group chat, and a paraeducator most likely, will come to that room and take the phone right away,” Gross said.
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