RUSD board of education cell phone policy statement

Since the first cell phone entered the market in 1983, cell phones have reached almost universal adoption in the United States. As of 2025, an estimated 98% of Americans ages 18 and older owned a smartphone. [1] Among children, half have access to a smartphone by age 11, rising to 95% among teenagers. [2],[3]

The rise of cellphones also tracks the rise of the internet and social media. Between the ages of 12 and 17, children spend an average of over eight hours per day viewing screen-based media. In addition, children in this age group spend over an hour per day on screens during school hours. [4] Time spent on a screen is time lost to the learning process, whether it be academically in the classroom or socially in the lunchroom. The damage is not limited to this lost time, however. Even the mere presence of a smartphone has been shown to reduce attention and focus throughout the day. [5] They are also associated with a decrease in student emotional wellbeing. [6]

Across the country, there has been an effort to reduce the amount of time that students spend on smartphones during school hours. Currently, 39 states have enacted legislation that restricts cell phone usage in schools. [7] In Wisconsin, Act 42 limits the use of cell phones during instructional time. Current district policy, consistent with state law, is to ban cell phones while instruction is occurring. Each passing year, more and more evidence is presented to show that in-school cell phone bans are good for students, in the classroom and for their personal wellbeing. [8]

Beginning in the 26-27 school year, the Board of Education has instructed the superintendent to enact a new, stricter cell phone policy. This policy will ban personal communication devices (PCDs) during the entire school day ("bell-to-bell") for grades 4K-8. For high school students, cell phones will not be allowed during class periods but will be allowed during passing time and lunch periods.

The board recognizes that this will be a big change for our families, as well as for our students. It can be stressful to be disconnected from loved ones, especially in a world where cell phones make constant contact possible. As the semester unfolds, we will work together with the community to overcome the challenges and fears to create a better learning environment.

Signed,

Ms. Theresa F. Villar

Ms. Marlo Harmon

Mrs. Sarah Walker Cleaveland

Mrs. Grace Allen

Mrs. Ally Docksey

Ms. April Harris

Mr. Ethan Clements

Mr. Michael Bellagio

Mrs. Jane B. Barbian