Last night, the DPS Communication Devices Advisory Committee (CDAC) held its final meeting and official finalized its recommendations to the Board of Education.
Here is what happened:
CDAC members worked through final language and aligned on a set of recommendations that reflect months of input from students, families, and educators. Across the conversation, there was clear agreement on the need for a strong, consistent approach to student device use across the district.
The final recommendations center on a bell-to-bell expectation, where phones and personal devices are off and away from the first bell to the last bell, including passing periods, lunch, and all school-day activities. Members also emphasized that this policy should:
- Prioritize student learning, mental health, and in-person connection
- Be implemented consistently across all schools with clear expectations and accountability
- Focus on support and wellbeing, not punishment
- Include strong communication, training, and ongoing evaluation
There was also alignment on clearly defining what counts as a personal device and ensuring expectations apply across the entire school campus.
Overall, the direction from CDAC was clear: consistency and clarity are essential for this policy to work.
Now, the decision moves to the DPS Board of Education.
Take action: Urge the Board to adopt a strong, districtwide K–12 bell-to-bell policy that reflects the CDAC’s recommendations.
This is a key moment to make sure these recommendations turn into real, districtwide policy for every student.
Please adopt the CDSCs recommendations and keep cell phones and other electronics out of school. Children deserve a distraction free environment to study in.
Thank you
We agree! Children do deserve a distraction-free environment. Can you please send the DPS Board an email asking them to adopt the CDAC recommendations using this link: bit.ly/yes-to-cdac-recs-blog ? They vote on these recommendations in the next month, so it is critical we ask them to adopt these recommendations!
I agree that we need stronger policy regarding cell phone at school and in the classrooms . I work with high school kids and they are glued to their phones. Even though we request for phones to be put away , students defy the request. Work does not get down, it’s distracting. Teachers spend more time trying to redirect students than teaching.
Absolutely—and thank you for naming what so many educators are experiencing right now.
What you’re describing is exactly why stronger, consistent policies matter. When expectations vary from classroom to classroom, it puts the burden on individual teachers to enforce something that should be a shared standard. That’s not sustainable and it pulls time and energy away from what matters most: teaching and learning. Appreciate you sharing this perspective.
Please urge the DPS Board to adopt these recommendations so it is put into a districtwide, K-12 policy.. you can use this link to do so:
bit.ly/yes-to-cdac-recs-blog
I absolutely agree and I think most parents will support this.