PASCO COUNTY, Fla. —The new school year will bring some big changes to Pasco County, where this week, school board members made some rule changes regarding cell phones in classrooms.

Parents have some conflicting thoughts about it.

Some who agree with the new rules say it will help students stay focused while in the classroom. On the other hand, parents are concerned students won’t have easy access to pull out their phone if an emergency were to happen.

Kids and teens tend to be glued to their phones, even during school.

“I just use it for entertainment all the time,” Nalany Morgan, 13, said.

Morgan is going to Hudson High School next year. Despite using her phone in class, she says it’s never been an issue for her with staying focused.

“The only reason why I use it for entertainment all the time is because our teachers don’t care when we are on it,” she said.

Her mom, Kelly Walter, doesn’t have a problem with her two teen daughters using their phones in class as long as they are getting their work done and doing it well. She says safety is also a priority.

“I have constant contact with my daughters when they are in school as it is because it doesn’t take a big thing to happen to get a hold of me,” she said.

Pasco County School Board members approved new phone rules for the 2023-2024 school year because of instructional time lost, safety and mental health. Students in Pre-K through high school must have their phones on silent and out of sight. For 6th through 12th grade, students are allowed to use their phone during lunch, which is an addition to high school students who can use their phones in between classes, which is not allowed for any other grades.

Pasco County School Board members approved new phone rules for the 2023-2024 school year because of instructional time lost, safety, and mental health. Students in Pre-K through high school must have their phones on silent and out of sight. For 6th through 12th grade, students are allowed to use their phone during lunch. In addition to high school students who can use their phones in between classes – which is not allowed for any other grades.

Pasco County Public Schools Cell Phone Changes

Pre-K - 5th grade

• Cell phone on silent out of sight for entire school day

6th - 8th Grade

• Cell phone on silent mode out of sight for entire school day
• Are allowed cell phone usage during lunch and when authorized by teacher for instructional activity

9th - 12th Grade

• Cell phone on silent mode out of sight for entire school day
• Are allowed cellphone usage during lunch and in-between class periods
• Authorized by teacher for instructional activity
   

Walter is against these changes. She still wants her daughters to use cell phones during the day.

“It’s only going to be hurting the kids more,” she said.

Other parents, like Jessica Ramirez, have been waiting for the day when strict phone rules were enforced.

“There is no reason why your kid needs to have a phone in their face. If something were to happen, the school will get in contact with you,” she said.

It’s a bonus for her because she says her 7th grade son is getting low grades in classes because he’s constantly on his phone while in school.

“He’s in the C’s and D’s and B’s. It’s holding him back, the use of the cell phone, and he needs to have that direction so hopefully he can follow and not the teacher can confiscate their phone,” she said.

She even has a phone schedule for her kids at home, but even with this, she’s worried about what her younger daughter’s generation will become, being so dependent on their smartphones.

“I hope that kids can be more in tune with each other and more social and back to how our generation was when we didn’t have phones. Hopefully, with these little bit of changes and parents helping at home and everyone coming together, we can save this generation,” she said.

These rules also apply to extracurricular and co-curricular programs before and after the school day.

According to the superintendent of Pasco County Public Schools, there will be special allowances for students depending on the circumstances.