[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6362445,"mediaKeyId","2167900-f263902b767be20d8ddb506ed5f06979","parentId",2167900,"title","Portland schools report smoother enforcement of middle‑school phone rules; debate opens on high‑school ban","audioSeconds",2985,"startMs",37000,"endMs",3022000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167900-f263902b767be20d8ddb506ed5f06979&start=37&end=3022","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167900-f263902b767be20d8ddb506ed5f06979/thumbnail_37000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6362445/Maine/Portland-schools-report-smoother-enforcement-of-middleschool-phone-rules-debate-opens-on-highschool-ban","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362445-c5bf25e37d48a9116b64fd6185992df9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775115262&Signature=CR2SzaEZZPs2F7rpLM8JfwQKa6Lx25JIM-CNVdeWK3~a4j2GJvzJQKRUNEfEa5kJcwKM1huJvoQhqbvU8xto61qh45fHp~hjsxt75-d72VMTicsWqcH5GmcjcOjdExu-uqrCM2upJjKde8gKN9qhjsjsEK5t2B9Tsy6m0feE17x4LjHM3lY1Crheav4jjLQ6C1xQYYTduT5gydQ5Kx57GQ7wWT1phP13pkaYT1jS9wZ0xTwJpjHMBBUYHBMBwzn4tBiPdCzDXtDIE6qfogfkdBuaq4tw~drXO9ajqUxAGTNNlezApvS4XeqUYaAeyp~ADbBJ8MiBckUfzYkZLAx0wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Portland Public Schools","date","2025-01-30T13:47:39Z","article","The Curriculum and Policy Committee of the Portland Public Schools board heard an update Jan. 29 on middle‑school implementation of the district’s cell‑phone policy and a developing push by some parents and staff for stricter rules at the high‑school level.

District staff told committee members they have moved from uneven enforcement toward consistent classroom practice at the middle‑school level, using a common advisory lesson, family outreach and a short classroom prompt — \"phone spotted\" — to remind students to put devices out of sight. Dr. Ahmed, an assistant superintendent who led the presentation, said staff work since August 2024 has included school‑level surveys, staff training and a family survey to assess support and challenges.

The update matters, staff said, because teachers reported frequent in‑class disruptions from phones and because consistent expectations reduce confusion for students and staff. Courtney Grafias, the district’s technology information coordinator, described a package of digital‑citizenship lessons used across the three middle schools and cited federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Education on coupling device policy with media‑literacy education.

What staff presented

Dr. Ahmed said the board policy (JFCK) already requires that devices not be used in ways that disrupt learning; at the elementary and middle levels devices are to be turned off or silenced and kept out of sight during the school day. Staff reported actions taken since August 2024: a staff survey; a standardized advisory lesson for students; family outreach including a parent university event and updated web resources; and collection of limited discipline data.

District staff summarized key data points: about 70% of educators who completed a summer staff survey rated cell phones as \"highly problematic\" or \"problematic,\" and about 76% said they supported tightening controls. Assistant principals tracked interventions during the first two months of school and reported being called to classrooms about 2.5 times per week on average to address phone use. A separate family survey collected 365 responses; staff reported that survey respondents were overwhelmingly English‑speaking and that families rated awareness of the \"off and away\" policy about 4.9 out of 5 and support for increased restrictions about 3.9 out of 5.

To reduce inconsistent reminders, middle‑school staff adopted a short, uniform phrase teachers use to redirect students — \"phone spotted\" — which administrators reported has produced prompt compliance at schools using the approach.

Public comment and stakeholder views

Several teachers and parents urged the committee to adopt a stricter, bell‑to‑bell ban at high schools. Matt Hosmer, a teacher at Casco Bay High School, said, \"I believe that it is in the interest of our students' health and education to remove personal cell phones and other technological devices from the school day, from the beginning of the bell to the end.\" Ernest Braun, a building substitute at Casco Bay High School, testified that inconsistent enforcement \"is leading to an educational environment where very few students have the opportunity to engage in learning at the level and depth and rigor that we owe to provide them.\" Parents who spoke — including Anna Cohen and Lucy Bergen — said they had noticed fewer disruptions at middle schools where staff are enforcing the policy and expressed support for extending stricter rules to high schools.

What would change at the high‑school level

District staff noted the high‑school policy differs: under current policy, high‑school students may use devices during non‑instructional times such as lunch and some class activities, and phones must be silenced to avoid disruption. Dr. Ahmed said some parents and teachers are organizing to request more restrictive high‑school rules but that the group of parents who have reached out is not a representative sample of the district’s families and does not currently include broad multilingual outreach.

Staff and committee members emphasized that any move to stricter high‑school rules would require broader engagement with students, families (including non‑English speaking households), principals and staff. Committee members and administrators discussed logistics such as whether lockboxes, morning drop‑offs, or other practical steps would be needed and raised concerns about shifting enforcement burden to classroom teachers.

District supports and classroom practice

Courtney Grafias described the district’s digital‑citizenship curriculum for middle schools, which covers how apps influence attention and strategies for students to build healthier habits. Grafias cited federal guidance, noting in part that districts that pair device policies with digital‑citizenship instruction can help students build more balanced relationships with smartphones.

Next steps

Staff told the committee they will continue to collect data, expand outreach (including to multilingual families), and consult students and families before recommending changes for high schools. Several principals and staff present said they would like to continue the work and consider pilot options for the next school year.

Votes and formal actions

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which committee members approved by voice vote. No formal policy change was voted on at this meeting.

Ending

Committee members thanked staff, parents and students for their work and testimony and moved to the next agenda item, a student proposal on civic education.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Curriculum and Policy Committee Meeting January 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Curriculum and Policy Committee of the Portland Public Schools board heard an update Jan. 29 on middle‑school implementation of the district’s cell‑phone policy and a developing push by some parents and staff for stricter rules at the high‑school level.","taxTitle","Portland Public Schools, School Districts, Maine","taxId",38492,"location","Maine","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6362440,"Student representative proposes required 9th/10th‑grade American Civic Studies course",1071,3069000,4140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167900-f263902b767be20d8ddb506ed5f06979&start=3069&end=4140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167900-f263902b767be20d8ddb506ed5f06979/thumbnail_3069000.jpg","/articles/6362440/Maine/Student-representative-proposes-required-9th10thgrade-American-Civic-Studies-course","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362440-0aa2500ffed50eb5661fdf7fd5252fb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775115262&Signature=mJJiZg6Dm5QDk5wxo9TpB04P5ooC59u4oIQggGwD7AQq3Ar3myVZ4PDamGc7h8toX~j-Mw1TJYdu9R4mLdavIRNHZgbolajqZM9ip4k1L60tU-WWOqj2~rfDISiv6W8gytsQcc-yEL99~enbqeO6kIxfBuS1TkaHw3anJHjxNV1BSr6K2gTqE07fU4DP-b6JyeWC07X4lpl3EZO~6Gh-a8wCieGmAeg9kp5tUomwaZN1Fy1a4b426odhY96ZNyI7GZBtuOAh-lR69UsKGfEkNzX2Bb0GxOiewa6UhRNuz5z9QFLJ15ZKIg72XDWvtDlU0TysTDxIyFq0YzP3A~JFKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mina Fitzgerald, a student representative to the Portland Public Schools Curriculum and Policy Committee, proposed Jan. 29 that the district add a required American Civic Studies course for 9th or 10th graders to boost civic literacy and student engagement.

Fitzgerald told the committee the course would focus on foundational documents, constitutional development, landmark Supreme Court decisions and practical knowledge of how federal, state and local government function. \"They would explore various documents that make up our public and our politics such as the Constitution, Declaration of Independence...to take an in‑depth look at the terminology used in these documents,\" Fitzgerald said.

Why the proposal matters

Fitzgerald said civic knowledge is declining and that a dedicated course would give more students a shared, foundational understanding of civics than relying on occasional coverage in history classes or electives. She suggested the course would prepare students to engage in local and national civic life and give them practical knowledge — for example, about how laws are passed, the role of the vice president and the structure of branches of government.

Board response and questions

Committee members and staff were supportive of the concept but asked practical questions about scheduling, whether the course should be required or an elective and how the district would place the class in students’ schedules. Dr. Stalin (role not specified in the transcript) asked whether the district would reduce another requirement to make room for the class; Fitzgerald said she expected the class would likely replace or be coordinated with an existing elective and that she favored placing it early in high school so students could take other social‑studies electives later.

Vice Chair Vando asked whether the district should begin civic coursework in middle school; Fitzgerald said a middle‑school foundation would be ideal but that her immediate proposal focused on a 9th‑ or 10th‑grade course. Board members also discussed whether the material could be incorporated into existing history classes; Fitzgerald said a standalone course would ensure broader access, noting that some students do not take “A‑P U.S. History” or similarly in‑depth courses.

Student involvement

Committee members and principals in attendance said they want students to be part of curriculum development. Principal Narhan said the work should be collaborative and that he hoped to see planning that includes students, staff and families.

Next steps

Board members praised Fitzgerald’s work and asked staff to continue discussion with teachers and the broader community to explore scheduling, staffing and how the course would fit under the social‑studies umbrella. No formal action was taken.","Student representative Mina Fitzgerald told the committee she proposes a 9th or 10th‑grade American Civic Studies course focusing on constitutional documents, branches of government and civic participation; board members asked about scheduling, whether content could be integrated into existing classes and student involvement in course design.","actionData","errors"]

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Portland schools report smoother enforcement of middle‑school phone rules; debate opens on high‑school ban

Student representative proposes required 9th/10th‑grade American Civic Studies course