DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines Public School District has been ahead of the curve for curbing the use of cell phones during instructional time.

Last year, Hoover High School served as the district’s pilot before the districtwide rollout. The policy was adopted by the Des Moines Public School Board in the spring.

“One of the things that we have looked at is ensure that there is a cell phone policy based on grade level,” said Dr. Ian Roberts, Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. “Grades nine through 12, six through eight , and Pre-K through five. And so while there is a district-wide policy that will guide how school leaders and their teams and students respond, we also want to make sure that those individuals really have the agency, based on the context, to implement a policy that really makes a lot of sense.”

While the district has a baseline of what schools need to follow, there is flexibility for the different grade levels to implement in ways that best fit the staff and student body. That also includes how the district handles consequences for non-compliance.

This will allow the district to focus on the wider picture of overall academic success, student attention and engagement and improvements to mental health and wellbeing.

For high schools, cell phone usage is prohibited during instructional time. That means phones have to be out of sight and away from students unless the teacher allows for learning purposes. This means that during free periods students can access phones, like a passing period or lunch. But during instructional time, the use of these devices for non-educational purposes is prohibited.

In middle schools, the entire school day is a cell phone free zone. A student’s device must be stored in lockers or backpacks during the day, with limited exceptions based on staff permission for emergencies.

Elementary schools will have similar policies as middle schools. No cell phone use during school hours with the devices turned off and stored for a day in a designated area.

For all three levels, parents and guardians that want to reach their student will have to contact the office to be able to get in touch. Students can access their phones in the school office in the event of an emergency. There are also new ways the district is looking to streamline communication.

“We have also invested in artificial intelligence technology where we have audio enhancements in classrooms. Where students will be able to access, sort of, communication devices from each and every classroom,” said Dr. Ian Roberts, Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. “We are rolling that out right now, it is not in every school yet, but pretty soon it will be. It is one of those contingencies we have put in place and parents should have no fear. We are already thinking about it so communication between them and the schools will certainly be effective.”

There are exceptions that can be made at every grade level, for emergency situations, medical needs or as outlined in IEP plans for students. Parents are also able to petition for their student to have access to their cell phone by submitting it through the principal which will be passed on to review.