As any tween or teen – and their parents or guardians – can tell you, whether cell phones should be allowed in schools is a hot-button topic. That's never been truer than it was for southern California families in June, when the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) School Board voted to ban phones during the school day.

If your school or your child's school is moving toward a cell phone ban (or has one in place already), you've probably already been thinking about how a slip-up could impact a student's academic or behavioral record and how their rights need to be protected. To discuss this with the LLF National Law Firm's Student Defense Team, call 888-535-3683 or fill out this brief online form.

The Case for Putting Cell Phones on Hold

Those who call for cell phones to stay home or be collected upon arrival at school or in individual classrooms point to some evidence showing better concentration and engagement, higher academic performance, improved mental health, and less exposure to online bullying when phones are absent or off.

Others: ‘Do Not Disturb My Student's Phone Use'

On the other hand, proponents of letting students carry their phones throughout the school day cite myriad reasons, including:

• A desire for families to stay connected with their children (especially in this era of mass shootings and other school safety emergencies)
• Constructive, educational uses of phones for teacher-approved learning activities in the classroom (online courses, e-books, research tools, homework turn-in apps, among them)
• A next-to-impossible enforcement effort, with teachers uninterested in policing cell phone usage
• The possibility of educator bias in catching and penalizing some students or student groups more than others
• The impact on students who need their phones for after-school jobs or family responsibilities
• The opportunity for young people to practice the balancing act of living with and without technology
• Medical reasons that students need their phones (such as connected devices like insulin pumps or hearing aids, although typically school policies make exceptions for medical uses)

Especially if your student has been unfairly singled out and penalized as a result of teacher bias or discretionary enforcement, don't settle for letting an infraction stay on their record. The LLF National Law Firm's Student Defense Team protects students' rights and fights to ensure they are treated fairly and are given what every young person deserves – opportunities to learn from mistakes and grow.

Unlimited Data Showing School Discipline Inequities

In particular, if you're a student of color have a disability, or are the parent or guardian of one, and your school or district has plans to punish students caught with phones on campus, you have reasons to be concerned.

It's not exactly breaking news that Black students and students with disabilities remain over-represented among students disciplined in school – especially discipline that involves exclusionary practices.

Whether it's a permanent scar on their academic or behavioral record, removal from a school sport or other extra-curricular activity, or something more serious like a suspension, such consequences can have serious effects on a student's future opportunities.

Don't ignore the power dynamics at play here, either. When individual educators are charged with enforcing cell phone policy compliance, there is the potential for bias to enter into the equation. A student's future scholarships, job opportunities, or college offers shouldn't be left to the discretion of a staff person with a beef against your student or any other type of recognized or unrecognized biases.

Answer the Call to Protect Your Student

If you are concerned about your school's cell phone policy and how it may impact you or your student, it's time to take action. The LLF National Law Firm's Student Defense Team helps students and their families nationwide when their rights are at stake. Don't let a mistake, misunderstanding, or a flawed and unfair cell phone policy come between your student and their future. Call us today 888-535-3686 or schedule a consultation online.