Howard County Public School Systems (HCPSS) has recently released its restrictions on cell phone usage during the school day in a program they call bring-your-own-device (BYOD). There are three high schools currently involved in the BYOD program- River Hill, Mt. Hebron and Long Reach. These schools are acting as a pilot for other schools in the HCPSS. The previous policy was similar to Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) policy where phones could be used before homeroom and after fourth period.

Now students at HCPSS are asked to use their phones to look up sample essays and work on their own at the same time. “The main focus is on instruction,” Coordinator of Instructional Technology Julie Wray said. “At the pilot schools, teachers are asking students, ‘Take out your phones and look this up,’ and if a student isn’t doing what they’re asked, if they’re causing a distraction or not staying on task, there are still consequences.” Students can also use their phones to vote for homecoming court, prom court and SGA candidates as well as use them to type reports and essays and send them to their teachers.

The restrictions have been loosened; that doesn’t mean, however, there are no rules; students who use their phones in what is called, “irresponsible or unacceptable use,” will still face consequences. The atmosphere of the school has also changed as well. “We’re letting them use technology they’re comfortable with. We’re not fighting them in the hall, saying, ‘Put your phone away,’ and we’re not fighting them in the cafeteria, and they’re using them responsibly. That’s what we found,” said Scott Ruehl, the principal of Mount Hebron High.

The three schools are three weeks into the program but the teacher’s union said it’ll make sure that technology does not get in the way of learning. Most importantly, the pilot program will only work if the students are operating on the honor system; if they inappropriately use their phones then other schools in HCPSS will not have the same opportunities to have a similar cell phone program.