Governor Mark Gordon and Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder have penned a joint letter encouraging Wyoming school districts to evaluate, establish and strictly enforce cell phone use during the school day.
In their letter to superintendents, school board members, building administrators and educators, the Governor and Superintendent highlighted emerging evidence that unrestricted cell phone use can both negatively impact academic performance and lead to increased classroom disruptions.
“Unchecked cell phone usage poses a significant threat to both the educational experience and the mental well-being of our students. Moreover, there is a concerning link between cell phone and social media usage and rising mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and even suicide attempts among students. It is often the tool of choice in student bullying and harassment incidents,” the letter reads.
“I am encouraged that many school districts are already addressing this issue,” Governor Gordon said. “In my travels around the state to address mental health, it has been heartening to hear how educators are stepping up and putting policies in place to help improve the learning environment.”
“As technology continues to increase opportunities for our students, we must also carefully consider how to preserve and protect the instructional environment on behalf of those same students— not only for the wellbeing of students, but for our teachers. I am confident in our local school districts’ commitment to identifying and enforcing policies around cell phone use that ensure student success,” said Superintendent Degenfelder.
While acknowledging that many school districts have already implemented cell phone policies, the Governor and Superintendent encouraged those districts to rigorously enforce their existing guidelines to create a more focused and supportive learning environment.