Schools

School Board Considers Lifting Ban on Cell Phones

Cellular phones may be allowed for instructional purposes in Prince George's County Public Schools classrooms.

Members of the Prince George’s County Board of Education are considering lifting a ban on cellphones for most students in the district.

The policy went into effect in August 2010, which effectively banned cell phones during the school day except for teacher permission and required they be kept out of sight. The measure also required the phones be turned off.

Repercussions for having a cellphone out in use would lead to a student losing their phone for a day or longer.

Find out what's happening in Bowiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The school board’s policy committee will consider at its Wednesday night meeting altering the policy to allow for cell phone use depending on grade level and instructional use, reports The Washington Post.

“We’re trying to change the policy in a way that reflects reality, while trying to maintain order,” Demetria Tobias of the Prince George’s County school board told the Post.

Find out what's happening in Bowiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The potential reversal of the policy would change a rule which banned students from bringing in a cell phone if they were caught multiple times with the technology.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here