The Knoxville Community School District has changed their cell phone policy for the upcoming school year.

The new policy prohibits the use of students using cell phones in the classroom during the school day or having a cell phone on their person. Students will be required to keep their phones in their lockers or in the designated cell phone pouches in the classroom that are available. Knoxville Community School District Superintendent Cassi Pearson says this new policy was implemented so students will be able to completely focus on learning while in the classroom. 

“We really truly believe that it will lower the distractions in class and improve learning. There is a lot of research out there and people have probably heard that many school districts are banning cell phones altogether. The negative impact on student learning with cell phones and headphones actually is pretty big. We’re starting to get more restrictive on that and we will continue to look at more things in the future as well.”

Students will also not be able to have headphones in the classroom as well. Hear more from Pearson on today’s Let’s Talk Knoxville.