OREGON – The Oregon Department of Education is responding to the issue of teen cell phone use in schools. The department released a document Wednesday with a set of guidelines for school districts to use when developing a cell phone policy.
Under state law, all 197 school districts in Oregon must have a designated phone policy in place. The new document cites a recent study from the Pew Research Center that says over one-third of parents with children under 12 report their child having used a smartphone before the age of 5. The document also points to studies from the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry that link child and teen smartphone use to depression and anxiety.
“We know that cell phones can offer benefits to students including those who may have health and safety concerns, or where students with disabilities require assistive technologies for additional support,” ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams said in a statement. “At the same time it is important for schools to work purposefully to create conditions that promote deep thinking and sustained attention, free from the constant interruptions that cell phones and mobile devices can introduce.”
The release of the document comes after some school districts in southern Oregon have already updated their cell phone policies. The Phoenix-Talent School District enacted a policy this fall where students must keep their phones away and silent during class and passing period. The Medford School District is also seeking input from students, staff and families to develop a new phone policy.
Liv Collom is a reporter/producer at NewsWatch 12. You can reach Liv at lcollom@kdrv.com.
