Arkansas tries banning phones in schools

Arkansas school districts are taking the state up on its offer to help them limit student cellphone usage.

State of play: As of last week, about 200 school districts and public charter schools plan to participate in a state pilot program this school year that will provide pouches for students to store their phones during the school day, according to data from the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE). The program also provides funding for telehealth mental health services.

• There is no cap on how much the state will cover, ADE spokesperson Kimberly Mundell told Axios.

Why it matters: The state wants to help school districts ban cellphones and other devices to combat the child and teen mental health crisis and improve academic performance, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced in early July .

Zoom out: Nationwide, cities, states and school districts are banning cellphones at schools, Axios' Jennifer A. Kingston writes .

• Getting kids off phones during the school day appears to be a nonpartisan issue, as Republican-led states like Florida and Democrat-led states like California all move to restrict cellphones in schools.

Between the lines: Nobody has figured out the right role of phones in schools, which is essential now that these devices are an integral part of our lives, Kingston writes.

• Many experts believe social media is causing depression and other mental health problems in children, but some say there should be middle ground where phones are allowed in the classroom for pedagogical purposes.

Zoom in: NWA districts participating in the state's program to stow phones include Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Gravette, Siloam Springs, Gentry, Decatur, Elkins, Farmington and Pea Ridge.

• In Fayetteville, students in pre-K through sixth grade will not be allowed to access their phones and smart devices during the school day. Students in grades 7-12 will have access to their devices between classes and at lunch during the fall semester. The district's goal is to fully restrict usage for those grades starting in the spring semester, the Fayetteville Flyer reported .
• Springdale plans to restrict cellphones among secondary students, assuming it receives a $400,000 grant from the state to provide pouches to store the phones.
• Bentonville students in grades 5-8 will not be able to use their phones at all during the school day. High school students will not be able to use their phones during class.

What they're saying: "We believe the research is clear: Extended cell phone use can lead to anxiety, isolation and depression in young people. … It's our hope the adoption of a phone-free environment will foster connection and uninterrupted learning while at school," Bentonville superintendent Debbie Jones wrote in an email to parents.

What's next: School starts in a couple of weeks. We'll see how students fare and what permanent policies schools or the state implements.