Decatur board begins drafting K–8 "bell‑to‑bell" device policy to meet state law

City Schools of Decatur staff introduced a draft policy to implement the state law that prohibits students in grades K–8 from using personal electronic devices "bell to bell." Amanda Lynch, chief of staff, told the board the district must adopt a local policy to comply with the statute and that a sample policy produced by the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) was provided as a starting point.

The discussion opened with local context. Lynch said Decatur High School piloted a classroom protocol this school year in which teachers collect phones each class period and students may use devices between classes and at lunch; administrators reported a 97 percent teacher compliance rate in a fall checkpoint and observed fewer…