Ask any classroom teacher in the state of Michigan what is one of the biggest challenges they face in providing instruction and, inevitably, they will say “cell phones” or personal communication devices (PCD). And it’s not just Michigan. According to a Pew Research Center survey, one-third of public K-12 teachers say students being distracted by cell phones is a major problem in their classrooms. When you dig further into the numbers, 72% of high school teachers say it’s a major problem. So what is the State of Michigan doing about this and, more importantly, what does your board policy say?
The reasoning for a cell phone ban varies from reducing classroom distractions to eliminating cyberbullying to improper use such as videoing other students or the classroom. For classroom teachers, the hope is that by eliminating cell phones student classroom focus will improve resulting in increased learning and students will have more face to face dialogue with their peers. For administration, eliminating cell phones could result in fewer office visits due to improper phone use such as cyberbullying. However, research regarding these hopes is mixed. You can find research supporting it and you can actually find research stating it makes the issues worse.
In the 2025 fiscal year, both the Michigan House and the Senate looked at bills addressing student cell phone use in schools. State Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, introduced a bill that didn’t make it to the floor in time so was reintroduced before Governor Whitmer’s State of the State address. It would have banned cell phones during the day in elementary and middle schools and prohibited high school students from using them in class. The Senate version introduced by State Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia simply required districts to come up with a policy that limited use but allowed for exceptions for emergency situations, devices for medical purposes, and accommodations for students with disabilities. Both bills failed.
So as school districts across Michigan wait to see if the issue is going to come up again this legislative session or not, it’s good practice to see where your district stands. Neola’s legally vetted policy 5136 – Personal Communication Devices addresses cell phone use in schools. This policy provides many options to fit what would work best for your district. The policy defines, provides guidance of proper use, and potential consequences of improper use for the district.
Be sure to review what your current policy is and what, if any, changes need to be made. It would also be a good idea to review with staff what board policy is when it comes to proper use of cell phones by the staff. There are also legal guidelines that staff must follow when using a PCD. A common misconception from staff is if their PCD is not district provided, they have freedom to discuss personally identifiable information or district business. However, that is not true. Neola policy 7530.02 – Staff use of Personal Communication Devices addresses this misconception. If you do not have this Neola policy, we strongly encourage you to reach out to your Neola representative to review this policy so that you are compliant with the law.
As usual, there is no easy answer as you navigate through the research, data, and community feedback when it comes to cell phones. Whether it’s bell to bell, in class only, or storage bins, you have to make the best decision for your district. Regardless, you can count on Neola to help guide you through these rocky waters with policies that are up to date and legally vetted by the best.