By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Catalina Foothills Unified School District students returned to school Monday under a strict off-and-away cellphone policy that the district said is already producing results.
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Under the policy, student phones must be powered off and kept in lockers for the entire school day. The district has had a cellphone policy for a while, but implemented the standardized ban last school year.
That followed a state law passed by the Arizona Legislature limiting cellphone use in schools. While some districts allowed phones during lunch, Catalina Foothills chose a stricter approach.
Survey results show gains in focus and interaction
A district survey found the policy improved learning at every grade level. In middle school, more than 60% of teachers said students have more focus in class, and more than 70% said students interact more with each other. Nearly all middle school parents (96%) said they support the policy.
Esperero Canyon Middle School student Della Forrester Santillan said the change was noticeable.
Before the ban, “I saw everyone was on their phone, not many people talked,” said Della. “This year in seventh grade, I made more friends because I was talking to people more, like during lunchtime, before school, after school.”
Teacher said standardized rules made difference
Middle school social studies teacher Jason Grobe said the district had a cellphone policy before, but the new rules made it uniform.
“This was across the board, every class, every teacher had very clear policies and everything,” Grobe said. “I think that made it easier for the students.”
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Grobe also said student buy-in has been part of the policy’s success.
“They know, and they understand that AI and cellphones and social media doesn’t always have a positive impact on them,” he said.
Della’s mother, Lynda Valeria Santillan, said the ban also addressed her concerns about bullying.
“I think it just avoids the bullying — the cyberbullying — and that’s kind of peace of mind for me to know that there’s no phones in the school, and they can just be free,” she said.
When the statewide ban was first announced, some parents worried about not being able to communicate with their kids. But Santillan said she trusts the school’s communication.
Isabela Lisco is aReport for America corpsmember covering education solutions for 13 News. Her position is made possible through funding from Report for America and theArizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund.
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