Depending on the school’s policy, some students may be able to use their phones during lunchtime.
HARDIN COUNTY, Ky. — It’s back-to-school season and for Kentucky students that means going into their classrooms without using their cellphones.
If you’re in constantly in contact with your child during school hours, that communication will have to change unless you want your child’s phone to be confiscated.
Lawmakers in Frankfort passed House Bill 208 in March. The legislation aims to keep students focused in classrooms by banning the use of their cellular devices during times of instruction.
At Hardin County Schools (HCS), this type of policy isn’t a stranger for some campuses. the district’s Director of Public Relations John Wright said they’ve had this rule in place for a couple of years at particular schools.
Wright said it’s not a complete ban on cell phones at schools, but rather a no cellphone policy while class is being taught, and that it’s up to each school district to decide how the law will be implemented.
“The bell rings primarily at eight o’clock and so that’s when we expect the phones to be stored away,” he added.
Wright also said depending on each school’s policy they adopt, students may have the opportunity to use their phones during lunch time or during after school activities like athletics.
At Bullitt County Public Schools (BCPS), only high school students will have lunchtime cellphone use. Their adopted policy states that elementary and middle school students will not have the opportunity to use them during school hours.
In a statement, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Jesse Bacon said the district’s policy has “clear guidelines designed to foster a focused learning environment, promote student well-being , minimize distractions during instructional time, and model responsible technology use.”
“Under the new guidelines, students may bring personal devices to school, but they must be turned off and stored in a secured personal bag. The use of these devices is not permitted during instructional time, which includes all learning activities under staff supervision such as classroom instruction, labs, and assemblies,” Bacon explained. “This policy does not include any device a student is authorized to use pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or similar legislation.”
Shelby County Public Schools (SCPS) Superintendent Dr. Josh Matthews said implementing the legislation is a fine line.
“There is no denying that cell phones have become an issue in classrooms over the past few years. With that in mind, our Board decided to adopt the law as written, ensuring our students do not use their cell phones during instructional time, while giving them the freedom to use their cell phones during non-instructional time,” he said. “We felt like this was a good compromise between keeping discipline in our classrooms and teaching responsible use of technology.”
WHAS11 asked Wright about what the district wants parents to know about the new policy and its impact when it comes to staying in touch with their children.
“Just help us make sure that you’re not texting your student, trying to call your student, during the instructional day,” he said. “If your school allows them to pull their cell phones out during lunch, text them during that time, or text them at the end of the learning day. So we ask parents to do that as it’s going to help out behavior wise.”
Wright also said if there is an emergency parents can always call the school to get connected with their child.
