Overview
- More than 400 parents, guardians, and teachers asked Ann Arbor Public Schools to adopt a full-day, phone-free policy district-wide.
- The request seeks devices to be off and secured during school hours, with supporters arguing this would reduce distractions and support mental health.
- Petition organizers emphasize that phones kept in backpacks often end up in students’ hands, calling for secure storage that keeps devices inaccessible.
- Existing rules vary: elementary schools report few phone issues, middle schools require storage in lockers or backpacks with possible confiscation, and high schools use classroom pockets in some pilots.
- Board of Education Vice President Susan Schmidt said the district is gathering data and learning from other districts, indicating any decision will take time.