“They now have Power Down Thursday where students are not allowed to use their cell phones, technology on Thursdays. I love it! I wish they would make everyday at Power Down day.”
Actions for Parents/
Guardians
3 Easy Steps
Send this email to 5 (or 50) others. Build a coalition to support you by posting on social networks, newsletters, etc.
Click here for a sample letter to send your principal. Be prepared with common push backs and evidence-based responses.
Here is a template survey to help you get information about what parents at your school want.
Take it to the next level: start a petition, suggest these proven polices, and form an action group.
Here are posters to use and download once you implement the Away For The Day policy.
“I have been impressed with how well this has worked with many of our students. It has decreased the number of cell phone related incidents with my grade level.”
Actions for Teachers /Counselors
Start a conversation
Talk with your teaching and counseling community about the issues and share data
Click here for sample policies to get ideas. They can be used as is or adapted for your school
Click here for testimonials from many other schools that changed their policies. Feel free to use any of our samples in a letter to your principal
Read the common push backs and our response.
Click here for a sample letter to send your principal
Sign up and share Screenagers' Tech Talk Tuesday which will provide ongoing info on these issues
MEET WITH THE PRINCIPAL OR HEAD OF SCHOOL
Meet with your principal or head of school to show them the supporting evidence why phones are a distraction in class
Bring a copy of the sample policies and consequences to show all the legwork that has been done
Additional avenues for change
If your biggest advocate is your principal, great, you are probably good to go. If your principal is not receptive, gather support through other influencers like teachers, PTA members, parents, and the school board. Another way is to create a Change.org petition. Click here for an easy description of how it works and template we created for you to start a petition
Another way is to create a Change.org petition. Click here for an easy template we created for you to start a petition
Here are posters to use and download once you implement the Away For The Day policy.
“We adopted a no phone policy. Life has improved! Kids started talking to each other again!”
Actions for Principals/Admin
Start A conversation with teachers and staff about new policy ideas
Decide clear rules, consequences, and process
Share the stats and research
Include teachers and staff in the change by incorporating their ideas and suggestions.
Read the common pushbacks and our response.
Sign up and share Screenagers' Tech Talk Tuesday, which will provide ongoing info on these issues.
Clearly define the new policy
Phones off and away during the school day
Click here for sample policies
Discuss in advance how exceptions will be handled, such as students who say they must use phones to listen to music while studying. We caution against being too lenient about this because teachers are seeing more students claim this need. The goal is to help students focus and study without music.
Offer a clear process of where phones are to go
Away in lockers or backpacks —lockers are the preferred choice, but some schools do not have lockers.
Central holding spot in advisor or homeroom classroom for the day
Bag or bucket in the classroom
Cell phone holders in classrooms (they look like hanging shoe organizers)
Have a sheet go home to parents explaining the new policy. Then, have an evening school-wide meeting to discuss it. We highly recommend starting the meeting with a few short videos from schools that have changed. You can download and use any of ours on this page
If your school has not done so, ensure that parents and students know that the school is not responsible for the cell phone if it gets stolen or lost, no matter where the phone was on the campus when lost. Students are always free not to take any risks and leave their phones at home.
Define specific consequences for using phones during the day
First infraction: take phone away/return at the end of the day
Second infraction: phone taken, parents notified, returned at the end of the day
Third infraction: phone taken, must be picked up by a parent
Explore other consequences
Here are posters to use and download once you implement the Away For The Day policy.
Download as a PDF
Take the "Away For The Day" Pledge
Support school policies that require students to put their cell phones away in lockers, backpacks, or other places all day.
