I was so on board with limiting cellphone usage (the students are more focused!) until the incident on September 4th at Apalachee High School in Georgia. I'm now understanding the parent's side of the story. What are your thoughts - let the kids keep their phones, just in case? Or continue limiting them?

We have had kids summon adult family members to school property to attack other students. More than once.
So a parental view of "just in case" can actually create a violent situation.

I really feel that a plastic pocket shoe holder on a closet door in a classroom works well. Every student is assigned a number. When they walk in, drop it in and go to seat. Phones would be available if there is an emergency but students aren’t tempted to pull them out during class.

Events are so rare and random. It’s not a reason to keep the phones with them.

I agree with others that parents can hinder protocol for police to clear threat before getting kids.

We saw that teacher opening that door to go get their cellphone to record an accident, and let the shooter in that elementary school.

Phones distract people.

Students can have cellphones with them in our school. They just can’t have them visible in the classroom.

Given recent events, we might consider a policy where phones are allowed but must be kept out of sight unless a teacher grants permission. This can ensure students remain focused but still have access in critical situations.

IF students had the self-discipline NOT to use them in class, I would have no issue. But it has been MY experience that middle schoolers believe they are entitled to use their phones whenever they wish, NO! students should not have their cellphones in class because it will be a distraction to them, goodness KNOWS they don’t need any distractions!

I don’t care at all if kids have their phones in their backpack. My kids are little so they don’t have cell phones yet but once they’re older I would want them to have their phone with them at school. There’s too many scary things that can happen in a school and I want them to be able to text me in an emergency.

As a parent, I get it. I would want that text.
But here's the thing, the faster everyone can follow directions and get through it, the faster everyone knows who is safe and has their loved ones together. Kids responding to their frantic adults has got to slow the process of evacuating, taking attendence, and getting everyone reunified.
And then there's the fact that almost always, there will be some parents who are not going to get that text back. Which means that they are in the hellscape of not really knowing, but knowing that others have heard from their kids. I would hope that all of us would want to shorten that time for them.

During our crisis training it has been mentioned that if every kid got on their cell phone during an emergency, there is a very good chance that the cellular & 911 systems would crash, making them inoperable so parents wouldn't get a text or call anyway. Additionally, if our school is in a lockdown, parents can't enter the school and if they congregate in the parking lot, that may block emergency vehicles from getting in.
It is sad that we have to be so concerned with these problems. :(

Let them have cell phones but keep them in their backpacks.

Given cell phone are contributing to screen addiction where students can't get off their devices , plus exposures were never tested on a child, and for only 30 minutes exposure ONLY, and for only 1 antenna not 5 antenna, and never taken into account developing bodies, and given the phones heat up to 107 and can do reproductive damage in pockets, plus the CDPH say now not to give these devices to children given children's unique developing bodies (and UC Berkeley School of Public Health had to sue the CDPH to release that document), no I can't advise using phones. I understand about emergencies and the importance of having a printed phone list of emergency contacts for students, and the teacher being the one to text the parents to reassure them. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/EHIB/CDPH%20document%20Library/Cell-Phone-Guidance.pdf

My district has had a “No Cell Phone” policy for at least ten years; however, this policy was not enforced until about seven years ago when students started using them to cheat and post on social media platforms during class. THEN, it beCAME a problem and TEACHERS were the ones left to enforce the law. Administrators were duplicitous in this because they would NOT follow the policies and consequences THEY had sent down to teachers and staff. I don’t have time for any bull, so I created something that worked for ME. IF a student’s phone went off in class OR I SAW them with a cellphone, I had THEM put it on my desk until the end of the day. If it happened a second time, I violated policy by using MY cellphone during class to call the parent, let them know that I was confiscating their child’s phone because he or she had violated school board policy on more than one occasion and was turning it over to administration PER POLICY. THEN, I called admin, let HIM or HER know what transpired (whichever grade level student committed the infraction), and to request that they come to collect the phone OR send security to collect it. I ALSO advised that the parent had been notified.
Very RARELY did I have an issue with students violating policy in my class. Cell phones should not be USED in class, and if students have enough sense to follow the rules, I don’t mind them because in today school environment, EVERY SAFETY PRECAUTION (the cellphone) IS A NECESSARY EVIL.

Governor just signed a bill effective June 2026 that will ban cell phones at all public schools.

I know the intent is to have students let know parents they are okay. But all this would do is create the perfect storm and have more chaos and more people creating unnecessary issues to deal with. As a teacher , even my poor husband would not have a clue until I was allowed to call him after everything was over or , always hoping this never happens , he gets a call I was shot dead in a school shooting. I think we all have this in the background of our thoughts everytime we enter our buildings. It's shouldn't be that way, and this is just sad. However, it can also happen anywhere I go. It's happened in my hometown WalMart, it's happened at public gatherings here in town. You just always have to be aware of your surroundings and assess the situation you're in. Nearest Exits, things to block you.

I am concerned that when the kids are texting parents, the traffic from parents trying to pick up their kids impedes first responders

I teach high school and can’t wait till we do the phone limiting thing but I’ll say this, our principal has began a “not seen, not heard, not taken” campaign and it’s working for the most part. He’s also telling students if you leave to use restroom you leave the phone with the teacher and get it when you come back. It’s working too. They also know if you get it out in class the teacher can and will take it up and you’ll get it back at end of period. If you don’t give it up, an AP gets called and they come and get it and then it turns into a write up and phone confiscation. That also seems to be working.

What if the text message or voicemail is the last thing the parent has of their child? I think the answer is to let children have their cell phones just be responsible and keep them in their backpacks and vote for candidates that value students' lives over gun manufacturers. Preventing parents from being forced to identify their child's remains from their clothing is not a threat to the 2nd Amendment.