There may be a lot fewer likes, comments and subscriptions coming out of Georgia schools next summer when a ban on cell phones for all elementary and middle schoolers is set to go into effect during the school day, pending Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature on a bill.
Ban backers say there will also be a lot fewer distractions and disciplinary problems once devices are out of kids’ hands.
PROMISING PILOT
A handful of districts around the state have implemented their own phone bans. DeKalb County Schools has launched a pilot program in 17 of its schools as part of its “Disconnect to Reconnect” initiative launched in August. Darnell Logan, the district’s director of student relations, said the initial results have been very promising.
During the first semester of the program, the pilot schools saw a 70% drop in student referrals for district due process hearings — when a school wants to suspend a student for more than 10 days — as well as a 15-16% decrease in suspensions.