The digital tether that binds students to their personal communication devices may soon loosen during school hours if North Carolina adopts the recent recommendations from Governor Josh Stein's Advisory Council for Student Safety and Well-Being. The Council suggests a ban on cell phones from the beginning to the end of the school day, backed by research that points to the devices' impact on student mental health. This move comes as a response to a troubling trend in increasing student sadness and suicidal behavior over the past decade.
To effectively start to implement their plan, the Advisory Council has published its Best Practices Guide for North Carolina Public Schools. "When students can spend their school day focused on their learning and engaged with friends and teachers, they have the opportunity to learn better and fully engage with others," Governor Stein said. The guide aims to provide Public School Units with the necessary tools to devise and enforce cell phone policies, according to the Governor's Office.
Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch, a co-chair of the Advisory Council, also emphasized the importance of action. She explained, "Over the past 15 years, we've seen a persistent and troubling decline in student mental health," according to a press release from the Governor's Office. Suggestions within the guide tap into a community-driven approach, involving students, teachers, administrators, and parents to pioneer a focused educational atmosphere.
2024 NC Teacher of the Year Heather Smith championed the proposed change, recognizing the rich potential of a learning environment without the buzz and ping of constant notifications. "When we remove distractions like personal communication devices during instructional time, we're not just enforcing a rule—we're creating space for deeper focus, stronger relationships, and better outcomes," Smith explained to the Governor's Office. This sentiment ties into the data the Council reviewed, which showed teens use their phones for an average of more than four hours a day, receiving over 230 notifications, with a clear correlation to declining mental health markers.
The Advisory Council, established earlier this year by Executive Order 13, is set to continue its work beyond the publication of this guide, with an ongoing mission to enhance the safety and well-being of North Carolina's students inside the educational environment. Co-chaired by Batch, Deputy Secretary William L. Lassiter, and Heather Smith, the Council is positioned to offer continued support to schools striving to adapt to best practices in the face of digital dilemmas.
