National Survey on Cell Phone Policies

The following is hared on behalf of the Maryland State Department of Education:

The Phones in Focus initiative is a non-partisan, research-based effort aimed at identifying the most effective school cell phone policies to support students' learning and overall wellness. By surveying principals and teachers about current phone use policies and enforcement strategies, the study will create a comprehensive state and national map of practices and link them to key student outcomes like academic achievement and attendance. Maryland has opted to participate in this national effort.

Phones in Focus needs your help answering a pressing question: How, specifically, should schools manage student cell phones to maximize learning and well-being? The Phones In Focus survey aims to change that by:

• Creating a statewide and national map of phone policies
• Connecting policies to academic and well-being outcomes to identify what
  works best and for whom

Take a few minutes to complete the online Phones in Focus survey. The survey closes Friday May 23.

Additional information:

• At the end of the survey, you’ll receive a real-time snapshot of how educators across the U.S. are answering the same questions
• Every educator who completes this survey is automatically entered into a weekly raffle ($100 for the educator and a $100 donation to the school). One educator will be chosen as the winner of the grand prize raffle: a gift basket that includes a $500 VISA gift card, a $500 donation to their school, personalized and signed copies of Mindset by Carol Dweck and Grit by Angela Duckworth, and a personalized professional development workshop or in-person school assembly with Angela Duckworth.
• All educators from schools where at least 5 educators complete the survey will be invited to an online, invitation-only professional development webinar on the science of self-regulation with Angela Duckworth in fall 2025.