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Subcommittee discusses county cell-phone policy; amendments on wearables and carve-outs requested
Summary
Delegate Fraser Hidalgo outlined MC 13, which would require school systems to adopt cell-phone policies; the committee requested amendments to cover wearable devices and to clarify carve-outs for IEP/504 plans and emergencies. Montgomery County Public Schools said its current policy is broadly compliant.
The Education, Elections and Housing Subcommittee heard a presentation on MC 13, a bill that would direct school systems to adopt a unified policy on student cell-phone use.
Delegate Fraser Hidalgo (first reference: Delegate Fraser Hidalgo) summarized the bill and said an amendment is likely needed to broaden the definition of prohibited devices to include smartwatches, wireless earbuds and other technologies that can access phones. "I think one of the amendments that's probably needed is also taking into consideration, in the classroom, watches and other devices that can still be used to access phones," he said, and offered to draft that amendment for the committee’s next meeting.
Fraser Hidalgo stressed carve-outs for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans and noted emergency exceptions. He also described an additional public-safety concern: several incident videos shared on social media have been filmed in hallways and lunch periods, and restricting device use during those times may reduce filming of fights. "Most of that fighting takes place in the hallways between classes and during the lunch hour," he said.
Patty (first reference: Patty), appearing for the Board of Education, said Montgomery County Public Schools already maintains a comprehensive personal mobile-device policy that covers phones, e-readers, tablets and smartwatches and that the district’s policy is largely in line with the proposed bill, though the bill may be somewhat more restrictive in places.
The committee did not vote on MC 13; members asked Fraser Hidalgo to return with a drafted amendment that addresses wearable devices and the technical points he raised. The subcommittee intends to revisit the bill at a future meeting.
