Every student deserves classrooms and campuses built for learning and human connection. Last fall, the Boulder Valley School District board took that responsibility seriously and voted for a bell-to-bell phone-free policy across all grades and all school hours.
Adopting this “away for the day” policy was, I believe, one of the most powerful and positive decisions our board has ever made for our children. And it is exactly the kind of decision school boards across the country should have the courage to make.
Parents are ready. Boards should be, too.
We voted for a distraction-free BVSD in November 2024, with the policy taking effect in January 2025. The impact was immediate and tangible: fewer distractions, stronger focus, and noticeable gains in students’ social and emotional well-being.
Many boards hesitate to do what we did, fearing parent backlash over limited communication with their children during the day. But during my campaign and in public forums, parents overwhelmingly favored a bell-to-bell policy. Since adoption, I’ve heard the same message again and again: parents value the clarity and welcome the change.
In education, that kind of consensus around any policy is rare.
The lesson is simple: This issue generates interest because it is so important, not because it is wrong. Bold action by education leaders reflects the will of families who want their children to thrive.
Why half-measures fail
Some districts try a compromise policy like allowing phones at lunch, in hallways, or during free periods. On paper, this looks like balance. In practice, it erodes the purpose of the policy.
BVSD once had a more permissive approach. In 2019, the district adopted what was then considered one of the strictest cell phone policies in Colorado: schools were phone free all day in grades K–8 and during classes in our high schools. Unfortunately, they were still allowed during lunch, open periods, and passing periods when kids moved between classes in our high schools.
But weak policies invite uneven enforcement. Teachers differ in how strictly they apply the rules. Students exploit loopholes. Phones slip out in passing periods and linger into class. Before long, the culture of constant distraction is back. The negative impacts on learning and well-being remain.
A bell-to-bell policy, by contrast, is clear, enforceable, and effective. Students know what is expected. Teachers can focus on teaching. Families know their children are free, for a full school day, from the constant pull of their screens.
What happens when phones stay away
The changes within BVSD since the policy took effect have been striking.
Academically, teachers say students are more engaged in lessons and discussions. They use their free time during the day to do schoolwork (when they aren’t interacting directly, face-to-face, with their friends). Engaged students means teachers can serve all students better, not just the ones who sit up front and aren’t glued to their screens during class.
The social benefits are just as visible. School visitors comment on the buzz of students laughing, debating, connecting — not disappearing silently into their phones. Schools are supporting this shift by turning open spaces into ping pong areas, opening gyms for basketball at lunch, and responding to students’ requests for more ways to play. Even modest investments in these opportunities pay off. These changes are building stronger school communities and healthier youth.
And while long-term data is still forthcoming (research partners are evaluating our outcomes), existing research is clear: limiting phone use supports mental health, reduces anxiety, and helps young people form healthier habits. Schools can — and should — give students that daily reprieve.
Lessons in implementation
Of course, no change of this scale is perfect from day one. We learned and adapted quickly. Launching the policy midyear created some initial confusion for families, but adjustments smoothed the transition. We made accommodations for students who rely on devices for learning or health needs. We strengthened communication systems so parents know they can always reach their children through the school.
The single most important factor has been leadership. When principals, teachers, and staff all share responsibility for making the policy work, consistency follows. Adults must be the adults in the room, modeling and enforcing boundaries that benefit kids.
Take bold action now for lasting impact
This is a moment for courage. Weak or half-hearted policies may feel safer, but they fail students. A clear, bell-to-bell, phone-free policy is both achievable and transformative.
I am proud that our board acted decisively and grateful to the teachers, families, and students who are making it work. More districts should do the same.
The evidence for phone-free schools is mounting. The support is strong. The need is urgent. The longer we wait to protect students’ education and health, the greater the consequences: chronic distraction, anxiety, depression, isolation. Education leaders everywhere owe it to our children to act now. Be a champion of bell-to-bell policies and empower a generation.
