Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Device Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Marple Newtown high-school leaders propose device-free instructional policy for fall 2025
Summary
A district committee proposed a building-wide device-free instructional policy to limit student personal electronic device use during class, with proposed implementation in fall 2025 and procedures under development to manage noncompliance and parental access concerns.
School leaders told the board Wednesday they plan to implement a device-free instructional policy for the secondary school beginning in fall 2025, limiting personal electronic devices to noninstructional times such as passing periods and lunch and requiring teachers to designate secure storage during class time.
John Bell, a district staff member who said he sees roughly 1,200 students daily, described the committee’s work and the motivation for the proposal: “I was in a class last year, and I was watching the class from behind. This student had no idea that I was there, and I was in there for 20 plus minutes at the time… she looked at her phone 22 times in 5 minutes,” Bell said, arguing that the practice disrupts learning and in-class collaboration.
Why it matters: district leaders said inconsistent classroom policies across teachers create confusion and undermine instruction. Presenters said about 31% of staff surveyed are already using phone caddies or other storage practices and that the committee’s plan aims to standardize practice across classrooms to reduce distraction, cyberbullying incidents that spill into school hours and interruptions to group work.
Implementation: the committee has drafted a policy framework with procedures and consequences to address noncompliance, and staff plan multiple communications to families and preparatory meetings with students (presenters said they will meet with ninth, 10th and 11th graders before the end of the school year). Officials acknowledged special accommodations will be made for medical needs and emergency situations and that staff will continue to refine enforcement details.
Process and next steps: the proposal does not require a change to board policy, presenters said, because board policy already provides the district authority to limit personal devices during instructional time. Staff asked for the board’s support to proceed with implementation and communication steps ahead of fall 2025.
Board reaction: several board members expressed support during the committee meeting. No formal board vote was taken at the committee session; staff will continue committee work and circulate final procedures to teachers, families and students prior to implementation.
Ending note: district presenters said the committee will remain active beyond initial rollout to update processes and respond to attempts to circumvent rules.
