Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker are urging local school districts to implement new recommendations from the Connecticut State Board of Education regarding the use of personal technology, such as smartphones and similar devices, in K-12 public schools.
According to state leaders, the new recommendations – titled Personal Technology Use in Connecticut Schools: Impact of Social Media and the Use of Cell Phones on Student Learning and Mental Health – provide school districts with guidance when drafting and implementing policies to promote a focused learning environment that restricts access to smartphones, other similar personal technology devices, and social media during the school day.
“All too often, our young people find themselves too distracted by their smartphones and disconnected from the reality of what is happening around them, including while in their classrooms, and it’s having negative impacts on their learning and mental well-being.” Governor Lamont said. “It is crucial that we adopt stronger policies to address this issue head-on. The state’s guidance provides a clear framework, but it is up to each school district to shape their own policies that meet the needs of their students and communities.”
The governor’s office noted that the guidance includes an emphasis on creating engaging spaces for learning to mitigate the negative impact that smartphones have on student learning, and considerations for specific policies and practices in elementary, middle, and high school based on developmental readiness and maturity.
“By removing the distraction caused by smartphone use during the school day and fostering a healthy balance with the positive use of technology, we create schools and classrooms that maximize peer-to-peer and student-to-educator interaction, develop social skills in interpersonal communication, and positively impact academic growth and success, all while supporting student mental health,” Commissioner Russell-Tucker said.
In the recommendations, the Connecticut State Department of Education includes appropriate roles and responsibilities for:
- Local and regional boards of education and administrators in policy development;
- School leaders and educators in ensuring consistent policy implementation and support for strengthening students’ interpersonal skills;
- Families and students in supporting and complying with the district policy and supporting students’ maintaining a healthy balance with technology; and
- Higher education institutions and the Connecticut State Department of Education in preparing and supporting educators, school leaders, administrators, and local and regional boards of education.
