MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Shelby County School students returned to school Monday, and other districts in the area go back later in the week.
With this new year comes a new change. Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill this spring that bans cell phones during the instructional day.
WREG reached out to area schools to find out how the districts are complying and how schools plan to implement the policies.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ new policy requires all devices to be powered off and stored out of sight in a designated location.
Some districts told us they didn’t have to make any changes because their current policies already complied, including Bartlett and Lakeland, where students head back to class on Thursday.
Leaders in Lakeland told News Channel 3, “devices must be in off mode and out of sight unless being used for instructional purposes.”
Millington Municipal Schools updated its current cell phone policy to read “students must have all wireless communication devices turned off and stored for the entirety of the school day.”
A spokesperson from the Germantown Municipal School District says it made minor adjustments to its existing policy, which also requires devices to be turned off and stored, adding it will be working over the next few months to “refine” its procedures.
Houston High School sent a notification to parents outlining how the procedure would work. It stated students would not be allowed to use personal devices from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. They must be off, not visible, and placed in a backpack or purse. Students will be allowed to use their phones during lunch.
The school districts in Arlington nor Collierville responded to our request for comment. WREG also contacted several private schools in the area and haven’t heard back.
Meanwhile, News Channel 3 visited a school that had already banned cell phones ahead of the new law. Liberty Technology High School in Jackson, TN, collects cell phones as students enter the building. The principal said limiting the technology has already led to a turnaround in student discipline and success.
School sees success after banning cell phones ahead of new state law
