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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
A new statewide law requiring school districts to outline policies to ban “wireless communication devices” during instructional time has pushed districts to reevaluate their current guidelines just before the new school year begins.
School board members in Rutherford met Monday night to finalize their cell phone plans; in actuality, they reaffirmed the policy that was already in place for their district. Students are allowed to have cell phones but cannot use them during the day, except under certain circumstances.
Board Member Tammy Sharp noted that use of cell phones in the classroom has been banned in the district since 2022.
“They are so disruptive in the school room, and our teachers are saying it is so much calmer in the classrooms,” Sharp stated. “I think it makes it easier for them to have a quiet classroom.”
Other neighboring districts are also making changes to comply with the new state law.
In Williamson County, students can bring phones to school but are required to keep them out of sight and unused throughout the day.
Wilson County implemented a similar ban for classroom use but left decisions about phone use during lunch and passing periods to individual schools.
Meanwhile, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System adopted one of the strictest approaches, voting to ban cellphone use for the entire school day.
Metro Nashville Public Schools said its existing policy already aligns closely with the new state requirements. Students are prohibited from using phones during instructional time but may use them during transitions between classes or at lunch.
Though some students may find the new restrictions inconvenient, educators across the state are hopeful that the changes will lead to fewer distractions and a more focused learning environment.
