LCSD Family Survey about Cell Phones in School
Dear LCSD Families:
I hope this finds you well and having had a good start to second semester. I am writing to follow up on our plans to hold a district-wide community conversation this spring about cell phone use in our schools. While we have a district-level cell phone policy now, it is not consistently implemented or enforced, and it may not reflect the most current research about cell phone uses in schools. For example, it will probably not surprise many of you to learn that recent research has found that:
- “About seven in ten high school teachers say that students being distracted by cell phones is a major problem in the classroom.”
- “More time spent on social media was significantly associated with the risk of depression symptoms. The risk of depression symptoms increased by 13% for each hour of increase in social media use in adolescents.”
- “Excessive smartphone use and behavioral smartphone addiction correlate with a decline in academic performance according to a comprehensive analysis of 44 different studies.”
We know that cell phone use in our schools is a complicated topic that raises different feelings and questions. It is an important enough issue that we are committed to leaning into this conversation to develop policies and practices that support healthy, focused learning environments and positive social settings for kids.
The first step in the process is to hear your voice and opinion. Please take this quick LCSD Family Survey (in English and Spanish) about cell phone use in our schools. The survey will also give you an option to sign up for the committee that will be meeting this spring to develop a policy recommendation for the Board of Education. We’d love to have you!
Thank you so much for your input!
Kate
Kate Bartlett
Superintendent