In a significant shift for one of the largest school districts in the nation, more than 200,000 students have begun the academic year under a controversial new policy: the prohibition of cellphone use throughout the school day.
Dominique Mayorga, an art teacher who has implemented a cellphone sleeve in her classroom capable of holding up to 30 devices, expressed enthusiasm about the policy’s effects. “I’ve noticed such a big difference in the classroom. Students talk more. They actually do their work,” she said, highlighting a marked increase in student engagement.
This summer, Broward County Public Schools in Florida took decisive action by instituting a full ban on cellphone use during school hours, compelling students to keep their phones turned off or in airplane mode throughout the day. During classes, devices must be placed in designated containers, like Mayorga’s sleeve, or students risk disciplinary measures. This policy, which took effect in August, ignited intense debate among parents, students, educators, and school administrators.
Opponents of the ban have expressed serious concerns regarding student safety, particularly in emergencies, noting that instant communication can be critical. The topic resonates especially in Broward County, which still bears the scars of the tragic 2018 Parkland shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
In response to the ban, parents quickly voiced their concerns, inundating comments sections on district social media posts on platforms such as X and Instagram. Many parents circulated a change.org petition demanding the reversal of the ban, which has obtained over 25,000 signatures.
Carline Dumoulin, a concerned mother with two children attending Cypress Bay High School, echoed the sentiments of many. She argued that cellphones serve as vital communication tools in case of emergencies, saying, “The way for us to communicate if there’s any type of problems going on at school, and I don’t need to go into the details — we know what’s happened before.”
Dumoulin emphasized that students “need to be able to communicate with the outside world, with their parents or their guardians, to let them know that there’s a problem.” Her concerns were shared by many families across the school district.
At Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, cellphones were utilized as crucial lifelines during the crisis, enabling students to text family members, post live updates on social media, and document the harrowing events, some of which were later presented in court during the trial of the shooter, who was sentenced to life in prison for the deaths of 17 students and faculty members.
Lori Alhadeff, a Broward County school board member who lost her 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa, in the Parkland shooting, acknowledges the deep-seated fears parents harbor. Yet she stands behind the ban. “In schoolwide emergencies, for example, district policy says students will be able to access their devices from the place that their teacher has designated,” she explained, detailing protocols intended to address safety concerns.
Reflecting on her own harrowing experience during the tragic shooting, Alhadeff shared, “On Feb. 14 [of 2018], all I wanted to do was hear from Alyssa. I know it’s scary, but we have and will communicate with parents as soon as possible to let them know that their kids are safe.” She remains receptive to revisiting the policy in light of student feedback, noting, “I’m absolutely open to the conversation.”
A full ban
This move to prohibit cellphones entirely is a reflection of a new law enacted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in May 2023. It mandates that all wireless communication devices must be turned off during instructional time and stored in teacher-designated areas.
While Florida’s law is pioneering, similar laws are emerging nationwide, with at least 15 states, including Indiana and Ohio, facing similar regulations. Recently, California enacted its own Phone-Free Schools Act on September 23.
Broward County extended Florida’s law further, prohibiting device use for the entire school day, igniting discussions among school board members regarding the appropriateness of the measures in place.
Debra Hixon, another school board member, expressed her hesitations regarding the complete ban, believing students should have access to their phones during lunch, as it is “their time.” During the board meeting, Hixon noted the consensus was to permit students to keep phones in airplane mode, providing some access in case of emergencies.
Despite her initial reservations, she insists that parents have come to accept that students will be able to access their phones in urgent situations. Hixon, who lost her husband, Chris, during the Parkland shooting, revealed that there has been less backlash as parents understand the balance between safety and accessibility.
The Broward County Public Schools website acknowledges contributors to the legislation, including concerns about cyberbullying. Last year, a distressing incident involving student violence at West Broward High School drew widespread attention on social media, prompting an official response from the school’s principal to parents, reiterating the consequences for students who videotape altercations.
Board member Allen Zeman advocates strongly for the ban, stating that smartphones often contribute to poor mental health and distraction among students. “If nobody has social media, if nobody has an ability to ‘like you’ or to do any kind of action…your day is better,” he argued, advocating for the policy’s strict enforcement from bell to bell.
Zeman also highlighted a troubling decline in literacy rates, referencing a National Assessment of Educational Progress report revealing continual declines in reading scores since 1992.
Max Schachter, a safety advocate who lost his son Alex in the Parkland shooting, expresses support for the cellphone restrictions as well. “During an emergency, kids should not be contacting their parents. Parents are not going to be able to do anything to help their children anyway,” he pointed out, underscoring the need for students to focus on following emergency procedures rather than engaging with their phones.
To bolster school safety, Florida passed comprehensive legislation following the 2018 shooting, including Alyssa’s Alert, mandating the installation of a mobile alert system, as well as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which increased security personnel and surveillance effectiveness throughout public schools.
Classrooms and hallways
While efforts to curb cellphone use in classrooms have largely succeeded, enforcing the ban outside classroom settings has proven challenging.
Teachers and students interviewed indicated that the policy’s guidelines are generally observed during class time. Still, issues arise in hallways and cafeterias. A district spokesperson confirmed that the administration is collecting data through surveys to assess the efficacy of the cellphone ban.
Leo Jimenez, a science teacher at Cooper City High School, reported positive trends inside the classroom due to the policy’s enforcement. However, he noted that monitoring during lunch breaks and passing periods is lacking. “It’s a battle that I don’t think anybody wants to fight,” he admitted, recognizing the challenges of overseeing student behavior during less supervised times.
Hixon echoed these frustrations, observing, “In the hallways, they’re using it…who’s supposed to be monitoring and enforcing that?” The responsibility of supervision during this time remains ambiguous, presenting practical difficulties for staff. Meanwhile, Zeman argues the enforcement has been effective. “Where we want to enforce the rules, we do a very good job of it,” he asserted confidently.
Several educators have innovated to restrict cellphone use during class, employing pocket sleeves as an effective solution. Jimenez confirmed he has adopted this practice, aligning with Mayorga’s approach. Students, however, like sophomore Marlena from South Broward High, claim that enforcement during non-classroom times is minimal. “If they did enforce it during their lunch and passing period, I wouldn’t want that,” she remarked, reflecting her ambivalence towards the restrictions.
Room for improvement
Mayorga, the art instructor, believes there is significant room for improvement in the execution of the new rules. She cited the example of Orange County Public Schools, which has also enacted a cellphone policy similar to Broward’s, suggesting additional personnel could enhance enforcement during breaks. A spokesperson for Broward County assured that a range of staff members—including teachers and security personnel—oversee cellphone use, but the quantity assigned to this role varies by school.
The dialogue surrounding the cellphone ban continues to evolve in Broward County. District officials confirmed that upcoming discussions will examine survey feedback and responses regarding the ongoing policy.
“At the end of the day, we need to make sure that the end user, which is our students, that they’re happy and that the policy is being followed with fidelity,” Alhadeff emphasized, acknowledging the complexities inherent in monitoring devices while remaining open to potential solutions that could satisfy all parties involved.
Ve reported some success with the ban, particularly within classrooms where focus and engagement levels appear to have improved. Teachers have observed that students are less distracted and more inclined to participate in discussions and collaborative activities. However, the challenges of maintaining enforcement outside the classroom highlight inconsistencies in adherence to the new policy.
Board member Debra Hixon emphasizes that while the intent of the ban is to foster a safer and more focused learning environment, practical challenges still need to be addressed. “We want students to learn in a distraction-free environment, but we also need to understand the reality of student behavior outside the classroom,” she said.
As the debate continues, Broward County Public Schools aims to refine its approach in response to feedback from parents, teachers, and students alike. The district plans ongoing assessments of the policy’s impact and will consider adjustments to maximize both safety and educational effectiveness.
Broward County’s cellphone ban embodies a broader trend across the country aimed at improving student engagement while navigating the complexities of communication safety in schools. The policy’s success will likely depend on the district’s ability to balance strict enforcement with practical considerations regarding student welfare and safety in emergencies. School officials are committed to evaluating the situation regularly to ensure they are making the best decisions for their students’ educational experiences without compromising their safety.
