Regarding the new phone-free policy, the secretary of education for Arkansas raises concerns

Little Rock, Arkansas – The proposal was first proposed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other state officials, who wanted to give school districts in Arkansas the chance to apply for grant money to buy pouches that would keep phones out of the classroom.

But how does that manifest itself in every school district? Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said that the school would make that determination.

“We’re giving districts the ability to determine how they want to implement a policy that limits or restricts cell phone use in the classroom,” Oliva stated.

According to Oliva, the program has attracted the participation of 20 districts, and the state has allocated approximately $7 million to fund it.

“The phone is not locked away in a different room,” Oliva stated. “It has a clipping lock, and you just go up to this little device that’s hanging on the classroom door, and you push it against it, and it opens it.”

In contrast to leaving the phones at home or in the car, many questioned whether this was the best way to deploy funds.

According to Oliva, this same reasoning is the reason they gave the district the freedom to determine what is best for its employees and children.

“We believe in supporting those local decisions,” Oliva stated. “Students are best known to their school districts. We’re offering flexible options because the leaders are aware of what works and what doesn’t work with their children and families. We do know that cell phones are a distraction, and when we speak with administrators and teachers, it’s one of the things they prioritize and for which they express a need for assistance.

According to Oliva, the trial program seeks to reduce screen time and enhance the mental health of adolescents.

Parent of two Lesley Landry expressed her support for funding to address the state’s mental health problem, although she would have like to see the money allocated in a different manner that would have had an earlier impact on pupils.

“I’m a big advocate of free lunches for all kids, and I will tell you right now, I know there are students in school whose parents may not meet the income requirements for free lunch, and they don’t get lunch,” Landry stated. “I think that’s a better place for us to spend our money to make sure all kids are fed.”

According to Landry, using phone pouches still raises safety concerns.

“I want to keep my kids safe, but it’s a parenting decision at a certain point,” Landry stated. “Some kids I know don’t have cell phones, but how do you legislate them, or how do you mandate parenting?”

However, Oliva added that since “safety is always a top priority,” state leaders also consider this.
“I like to tell people we’ve been in school for over 100 years, and cell phones weren’t part of it that entire time,” said Oliva. “We still found ways to get messages to students and for students to communicate, and if there’s an emergency, that’s why we have those provisions available for districts to work with their families and make those needs.”

Oliva continued, “This project cannot be completed overnight. To assess the overall impact, the state will look at pre- and post-survey data, student achievement, referral and attendance rates.”