Arizona Schools Implement Stricter Cellphone Policies to Boost Classroom Focus

PHOENIX — Schools across the state are tightening rules on students using cellphones in class. Some schools require students to put their phones away, while others lock them up. Chloe Sakala, a 16-year-old student at Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Phoenix, said it’s common to see kids using their phones during class for texting and social media.

To reduce distractions, Sandra Day O’Connor High is introducing a new cellphone policy for the upcoming school year. Students must keep their phones in their backpacks, pockets, or purses, out of sight during class. This policy is similar to others across the state.

Dr. Anita Stoltc, principal of Barry Goldwater High School, where cellphones are banned in class, believes this helps students focus more on learning and less on social media. A 2023 Common Sense Media report found that 97% of students ages 11 to 17 use their phones during school, often for social media, which distracts them from class activities.

The Bullhead City School District goes even further, requiring students to lock their phones in a box for the entire school day.

Joe Sakala, a parent and former Phoenix police officer, understands the need to reduce distractions but disagrees with locking up phones. He worries about not being able to contact his daughter in case of emergencies like hazmat situations, active shooters, or natural disasters.

Most Arizona school districts let individual schools decide their cellphone policies based on the extent of the problem on each campus. In April, Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill to establish statewide cellphone rules in schools, stating that schools are already handling the issue well enough.

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