"Off AND Away, ALL DAY" Cell Phone Policy

Greene County Public Schools’ top priority is to cultivate a safe and supportive learning environment for all students and staff, encompassing their physical, environmental, and emotional well-being.

To support the physical, emotional, and mental health of our students and staff, GCPS will implement a "Off AND Away, ALL DAY" policy. When students return on January 6th, 2025, students will NOT be permitted to use their personal devices during the school day. All devices must be powered off, and concealed in a separate container such as a backpack or purse. Students at WMHS will no longer be able to use their devices at lunch. 

T0 view the full policy, go to https://www.greenecountyschools.com/students2/cell-phone-policy

Mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, are increasing among children, with cell phone and social media usage being significant factors. Research shows that spending over three hours a day on social media doubles the risk of poor mental health for adolescents, yet kids average 4.8 hours daily. Since 2010, rates of suicide and depression have surged. Between 2019 and 2021, suicide rates rose by 167% for girls and 91% for boys, while depression increased by 161% for boys and 145% for girls. Creating cell phone-free learning environments is crucial to supporting parents and addressing this growing mental health crisis among our children. 

Please see the linked research below to learn more about how phone use can affect students. 

Academic Impact Study

Emotional Impact Study