Rethinking Cellphone Management in K–12 Classrooms

Across K–12 schools, the conversation around student device use has shifted from whether phones belong in classrooms to how schools can manage them in a way that supports learning. As digital devices become increasingly embedded in students’ daily lives, educators are navigating a complex balance between maintaining safety and minimizing disruption. The challenge is no longer simply about restriction but about designing systems that are practical and sustainable at scale. One of the most pressing issues schools face is that mobile phone distraction is rarely limited to overt misuse. Even when…