State Education Board Unveils New Proposed Cell Phone Policy: What It Means for Students and Schools

The Alaska Board of Education just shared a new draft cell phone policy. This policy lets school districts limit cell phone use in classes but allows for some exceptions, like medical needs and educational purposes. While the board encourages schools to follow these guidelines, it’s not mandatory.

The board will collect input from superintendents and make a decision at their next meeting in Juneau on March 10.

Alaska’s Education Commissioner, Deena Bishop, emphasized that districts will have the final say over specific rules. “Those little details are up to the districts,” she said.

Many schools, especially in Anchorage and Mat-Su, have already put their own cell phone rules in place. Reports show that these schools have had positive experiences with these restrictions.

In contrast, a proposed Senate Bill by Sen. Bill Wielechowski would make it mandatory for schools to have cell phone rules and even ban phone use during lunch. This differs from the board’s draft policy.

Bishop mentioned that schools that have limited phone use report that students are interacting more during lunch. One school official shared that the cafeteria, once silent due to phones, is now filled with chatter and laughter.

The goal of the cell phone policy is to find a balance. Bishop likened the need for rules to a liquor cabinet: “If we don’t set some guidelines, it’s like saying to kids, ‘Just regulate yourself.’”