A group of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) parents expressed support for phone-free schools through an Away All Day cellphone policy in a recent post on Moderately MOCO.
Under an Away All Day policy, students would not be able to use cellphones, earbuds and smartwatches throughout the entire school day, including during lunch and classroom transitions.
“Studies also show that having a smartphone within sight or within easy reach reduces a person’s ability to focus and perform tasks, weakens relationships, and increases risk of anxiety and depression, especially among girls,” the parents wrote in the post. “An entire generation that grew up with devices now struggle to read books in college.”
MCPS is already behind other school districts when it comes to cracking down on cell phone use, according to the parents. Howard County Public Schools approved a policy of their own on March 3. Virginia’s Stafford County Public Schools did so in June 2024.
For the parents, declining test scores is a big issue. The post included testing data over time that showed a steady increase in average reading and mathematics test scores from 1973 to 2012. This was followed up by a seven-point drop in reading scores and a 14-point drop in math scores from 2012 to 2023.
The parents are circulating a letter to MCPS Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor urging him to support the proposed policy. According to the parents, the letter has gathered nearly 2,000 signatures.
“We urge other parents, teachers, staff and community members in the county to join us and sign the letter this month, while MCPS deliberates on revisions to its current personal mobile device policy,” the parents wrote. “Principals who participated in an Away All Day pilot this year unequivocally stated that MCPS needs to adopt a clear, consistent policy to ensure better enforcement.”
