District says FocusNow/PhonesLater policy has reduced visible classroom phone use, referrals increased as enforcement rose

Washington County Public Schools officials updated the board on the FocusNow/PhonesLater initiative, a districtwide expectation that students not use cell phones during instructional time.

The district said principals set building-level rules about whether students may carry phones during class changes or lunch, but all buildings prohibit phone use during instruction. District staff said communications and professional development at the start of the year emphasized the expectation and that reminders were sent in the second semester.

"As we walk through classrooms on a regular basis, I see very few phones," a district leader said. The district also reported referrals for cell-phone violations have increased and are more than twice last year’s rate year to date, a change officials attributed to increased enforcement, not higher usage during instruction.

Principals said they continue to work with individual teachers on consistent enforcement and noted differences among buildings on the use of phones during non‑instructional times (hallways, lunch). A board member suggested examining bell-to-bell policies enacted in other states and requested data on referrals; district staff agreed to provide school-level violation data to the board for further analysis.

Board members asked for outcome-focused presentations going forward, with year‑over‑year numeric targets tied to strategic goals. District leaders said they will provide additional quantitative data and consider follow-up briefings on enforcement consistency and impact.