The U.S. Department of Education has urged states, districts, and schools to establish policies for student use of personal devices in educational settings. The department released a new resource titled "Planning Together: A Playbook for Student Personal Device Policies." This guide provides a model process for education leaders to develop device usage policies collaboratively with educators, students, parents, and caregivers.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona emphasized the importance of having informed policies on device usage in schools. "In this digital age, every elementary, middle, and high school should have a clear, consistent, and research-informed policy to guide the use of phones and personal devices in school," he stated. Cardona highlighted the need for local communities to be involved in creating these policies to ensure they are suitable for different school environments.

The playbook addresses concerns about the impact of cell phones on students' ability to focus during class and potential negative health effects from social media accessed via phones. These effects include depression, suicidal ideation, sleep disruption, or exposure to cyberbullying.

Dr. Miguel A. Cardona Secretary of Education | Official website

Designed to fit various local contexts, the playbook supports developing policies that may restrict or prohibit device use during school hours. It offers examples and resources related to cell phone policies and includes additional reading materials on the issue. The guide also stresses shared responsibility among schools, educators, students, and parents in preparing students as responsible digital citizens.

This initiative aligns with actions announced in May 2023 by the White House Fact Sheet aimed at protecting youth mental health online as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts. The process outlined in the playbook ensures that new device policies consider input from educators, students, parents, and community members.