Petition to the Rhode Island General Assembly
Regarding Student Cell Phone Policies in High Schools

To the Honorable Members of the Rhode Island General Assembly:

We, the undersigned students, parents, and community members of Rhode Island, respectfully submit this petition to address concerns about overly restrictive cell phone policies in our state’s public high schools.

Background:
Many Rhode Island high schools enforce rules that involve confiscating student cell phones during the school day, including for seniors. While we understand the importance of limiting distractions in classrooms, we believe that current policies fail to reflect the maturity, responsibilities, and needs of older students.

Concerns:

Seniors Are Almost Adults: High school seniors are often 17 or 18 years old, on the verge of adulthood. Many work jobs, drive cars, pay bills, vote, or serve in the military. Yet, in school, they are often treated as if they lack the ability to manage basic responsibilities, such as cell phone use.
College Comparison: In higher education, which many seniors are about to enter, students are trusted to manage their own devices. Professors do not confiscate phones; students learn accountability. High school seniors deserve policies that reflect this reality and prepare them for the independence of college and adult life.
Fairness in Discipline: Current rules often punish entire classes when one student misuses a phone. We believe consequences should be individualized: if a senior abuses the privilege of phone use, that student should face consequences — not the entire group.
Safety & Communication: In the event of an emergency, students should have immediate access to their phones to contact parents or emergency services.
Academic Use: Phones can be essential tools for research, scheduling, and school-related communication. Restricting access reduces learning opportunities.
Equity: For some students, a phone is their primary way to manage work schedules, family responsibilities, and healthcare reminders. Taking away that resource places them at a disadvantage.
Our Request:
We respectfully urge the Rhode Island General Assembly to:

Review statewide school phone policies and encourage local school districts to adopt more balanced approaches.
Establish guidelines that allow high school seniors greater flexibility in phone use, particularly during non-instructional times (lunch, study halls, free periods).
Ensure that disciplinary action is individualized, so responsible students are not punished for the actions of a few.
Promote policies that emphasize responsibility, independence, and safe technology use, rather than blanket confiscation.
Conclusion:
High school seniors are preparing to step into adulthood, and their schools should reflect that reality by offering trust and responsibility. Treating seniors like children undermines the skills they need to succeed in college, careers, and civic life. By revising phone policies to balance accountability with independence, Rhode Island schools can both protect learning environments and prepare students for their future.

Respectfully submitted,

Yassin Abdou