School districts may have a different policy on the use or presence phones during school. For instance, your school may allow them during certain circumstances, such as during lunch or when you're not working. Other schools may not allow them at all.
The Apache Junction Unified School District is taking a different approach. Now, mobile phones will not be allowed during school hours at all. Students will not be able to access them and must have them turned off during the entire school day. Those who need to make a call must use the phones in their classrooms or at the main office. You can read more here.
When addressing why the ban was put in place in their district, Apache Junction school district officials stated that they wanted to keep distractions to their absolute minimum. This hasn’t gone into effect statewide though. A ban from students using cellphones across the entire state of Arizona was vetoed by the Governor in April 2024.
It appears that any and all changes made to cell phone policies in schools are happening at the school district level. That means your school governing board members decide if these laws are necessary. Because of the recent veto from the Governor of Arizona, it looks like the state will not be interfering in what your school district does with regards to cell phones.
Written by Paul B.
July 2024