One of the best ways to support BPS students and teachers is by making our schools phone-free from bell to bell. Personal devices are a significant source of distraction, and their presence — even when pocketed — undermines learning, focus, and social development.

Michigan just passed a personal device ban during instructional time— a real step forward. But instruction-only policies still leave phones accessible during lunch, passing periods, and free time. Bell-to-bell is the gold standard, and we're asking BPS to lead the way.

Bell-to-bell phone-free schools work

Policies that make phones inaccessible all day — not just during class — have been shown to:

• Reduce classroom distractions and free teachers from being "phone police"
• Increase focus, cognitive performance, and academic outcomes
• Improve student mental health and school connectedness
• Reduce cyberbullying, social media drama, and in-school disciplinary issues
• Give students back unstructured time to connect with each other

What we're asking BPS to do
Adopt a formal bell-to-bell policy requiring that smartphones and smartwatches be stored securely and remain inaccessible from first bell to dismissal — with exceptions only for medical necessity or IEP/504 accommodations. Apply this consistently across all schools, including buses, and publish the policy clearly on the BPS website.

This is a common-sense ask with broad, bipartisan support nationwide. BPS has an opportunity to be a leader — not wait for Lansing to force the issue. Our kids shouldn't have to wait. Sign below to show the BPS Board that our community supports making Birmingham schools phone-free, bell to bell