DENVER, CO – The Denver Public Schools (DPS) Board of Education voted unanimously to pass a strict new policy requiring all students to turn off and put away personal electronic devices during the school day.
What Devices Are Banned?
The “bell-to-bell” restriction is comprehensive and applies to all student-owned electronics. Under the new policy, students must power off and store:
- Cellphones and smartwatches
- Laptops and tablets
- Wireless earbuds
School Board Director Marlene De La Rosa emphasized that the decision was driven by a thoughtful community recommendation rather than a top-down mandate. The policy aims to improve educational outcomes, reduce daily classroom distractions, and limit the negative impacts of social media on student mental health.
Community Response and Survey Results
The policy shift follows an extensive district survey that gathered feedback from more than 7,000 DPS parents, teachers, students, and staff members. The results showed a major divide between adults and students:
- Staff Support: Roughly 75% of surveyed school staff strongly favored the ban.
- Overall Support: More than 60% of the total community pool agreed with the restriction.
- Student Support: Only 2% of surveyed students were in favor of the device ban.
DPS parent Jamie Chesser, who participated in the community engagement process, noted that the policy is intended to support student success and teacher well-being, rather than serving as a form of punishment.
Emergency Concerns and Healthcare Exceptions
While the policy passed unanimously, several parents and students have raised safety concerns regarding communication during school emergencies. To address this, the district highlighted its existing text alert system, which automatically notifies parents and provides real-time updates during critical incidents.
Additionally, district officials confirmed there will be strict exceptions built into the rule, particularly for students who require personal electronic devices to monitor medical conditions or healthcare needs.
Next Steps for Implementation
With the policy officially approved, DPS Superintendent Alex Marrero is now tasked with designing the exact administration guidelines. The district team will determine the logistics of the rollout, including whether students will be allowed to keep the powered-down devices in their backpacks or if they must be stored in designated areas.
