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Boston schools weigh requiring students to lock away personal devices all day
Boston Public Schools is proposing a bell-to-bell restriction on students’ personal electronics, including phones, tablets and smartwatches. If adopted, the rule would begin in fall 2027.
Boston Public Schools is considering a policy that would require students to put away personal electronic devices for the full school day, starting in fall 2027.
The proposal, described in a three-page memo sent to the School Committee on Wednesday, would cover cellphones as well as personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches and smart glasses. Students would be required to lock up devices that were not issued by the school.
School administrators said the policy is based on research they say links social media and sustained screen exposure with negative effects on adolescents’ mental health and ability to focus.
The plan is a proposal, not an adopted rule. The memo details provided do not specify how devices would be stored, whether exceptions would be allowed or when the committee might decide. Those details will matter to students and families assessing how the restrictions would work during the school day.