The Issue: Academic performance, mental health, and executive functioning are at risk with continued smartphone use at school, whether between classes, in study hall or at lunch. The phone caddies are not enough.

We, the undersigned parents and community members, strongly support the implementation of a phone-free policy in Scarsdale Public Schools, ensuring that phones are stored away during the entire school day.

Distractions from smartphones interrupt cognition and are correlated with lower academic performance. Our goal is to foster a school environment, from Kindergarten through 12th grade, that maximizes face-to-face human interaction. The research is clear: a bell-to-bell phone-free environment significantly enhances the learning experience and prioritizes the overall health and well-being of students. 

This policy will create a more positive, focused, and supportive environment for all students, and we respectfully urge Scarsdale Public Schools to adopt this phone-free initiative.