Action Alert
Leeper said another priority is to make schools cell phone-free statewide to “ensure that our children have a distraction-free learning environment.
“The data on the benefits of going phone-free bell to bell are unambiguous and very well supported,” Leeper said. “As a state, we are behind the national trend on this issue.”
There are currently 19 states with bell-to-bell policies banning cell phones in schools.
Superintendents in four Connecticut districts that implemented cell phone bans over the past few years have reported improvements in a number of areas. Officials in Torrington, Waterbury, Manchester and New Haven have said they’re seeing fewer discipline referrals, increased student engagement, and some are reporting marked improvements in academic achievement.
A new study in JAMA published this month found that 13 to 18-year-olds spend more “than 8.5 hours daily on screen based entertainment.” The study said that smartphone “use has been associated with poor physical health, mental health and academic outcomes.”
The CEA and CABE shared differing views on banning cell phones in schools.
“We think that it is unnecessary because virtually every district in the state already has a policy or has a policy under discussion,” said McCarthy.
She said the ban should be decided locally.
“In high school we are preparing students to function outside of this school environment, whether it be in the workplace or in college,” she said. “And they’re going to need to be able to self-regulate, not just say no because it’s the rule.”
Dias said data shows that access to cell phones and social media is detrimental to students’ outcomes.
She said she has seen positive changes to school systems when a cell phone ban is implemented.
“We are confident that this is a solution that makes sense in the state of Connecticut,” she said. “But we’re also mindful that this needs to be a conversation. It can’t be something that’s just done to people. It needs to be something that is part of a bigger conversation.”
Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, said there are a number of superintendents who believe a cell phone ban should be implemented at the local level while others say it would be easier to have a statewide cell phone ban.
SubjectMessage Body
Thank you for trying to take action. Unfortunately, none of your officials accept this type of communication.
Post
Thank you for trying to take action. Unfortunately, none of your officials accept this type of communication.
Suggested Message
Post
Remaining: 0
* Message body is too long
Thank you for trying to take action. Unfortunately, none of your officials accept this type of communication.
Thanks for trying to take action! There’s no need to act on this campaign because either your elected officials were not included or there’s currently a vacancy in your district.
Thanks for trying to take action! Unfortunately, we could not send your message because:
None of the officials targeted in this campaign accept the type of communication chosen by your organization.
No further action is needed at this time. Thank you again.
Thank you for trying to take action. Unfortunately, none of your officials accept this type of communication.
Please do not close this window. You will need to come back to this window to enter your code.
We just sent an email to ... containing a verification code.
If you do not see the email within the next five minutes, please ensure you entered the correct email address and check your spam/junk mail folder.
Enter Your Info
Your Information
By providing your mobile number, you agree to receive periodic call to action text messages from Connecticut Parent Teacher Association. Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help. Reply STOP to unsubscribe. Message frequency varies.
Privacy Policy
Please enter a valid mobile phone number.
You must text "START" to because you previously un-subscribed.
Home Information
Enter Zip for City and State
Business Information
Enter Zip for City and State
Enter Your Info
Additional Information
Your message has not been sent! Your officials require the following additional information to be submitted in order for this message to be delivered to them.
The prefix you selected is not accepted by at least one of your legislators. Please choose one of the following prefixes:
.jpg)