UB event to explore cellphone bans in schools, provide guidance for educators and parents

By the University at Buffalo

With the school year in full swing, the conversation around cellphone bans in classrooms is gaining attention across Western New York. As more schools – including Lackawanna City School District – adopt policies to limit students’ access to phones during class, parents and educators are seeking guidance on how to navigate this increasingly prevalent issue.

The University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education (GSE) and the Western New York Education Equity Task Force (WNYEETF) will host an online event to explore the growing trend of banning cellphones in schools and its impact on students, educators and parents.

The event, “School Cellphone Bans: Key Considerations for Schools and Communities,” will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, via Zoom. Attendees can register for the event by visiting the Zoom registration page. The event is free and open to the public.

Suzanne Rosenblith, GSE dean and professor, and Samuel Radford III, co-convenor of the WNYEETF and a National Parent Union board member, and additional WNYEETF co-conveners, will cohost the event.

“I look forward to learning what the research tells us about the costs and benefits of banning cellphones from K-12 settings,” Rosenblith said.

Radford said, “As a National Parent Union board member and co-convenor of the Western New York Education Equity Task Force, I believe it is essential to approach the issue of cellphone use in schools with a forward-thinking, proactive mindset rather than with reactive bans.” 

Leading the discussion will be UB faculty experts:

√ Amanda Nickerson, Ph.D., director, Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention and SUNY Distinguished Professor, department of counseling, school and educational psychology.

√ Stephanie Fredrick, Ph.D., associate director, Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention and associate professor, department of counseling, school and educational psychology.

√ Katheryne T. Leigh-Osroosh, Ph.D., assistant professor, department of counseling, school and educational psychology.

The panelists will explore the various approaches schools are taking to ban cellphones and the effects on students’ academic performance and well-being. They will also cover practical recommendations for approaching this issue and offer real-world examples from schools and organizations.

Leigh-Osroosh has recently been featured in several local media outlets discussing this issue.

“While I appreciate the effort to examine the impact of cellphone use on learning, I wonder if these bans are more reactionary than preventative,” she said. “In education, we have the power to be on the prevention side, and I’d like to see more focus on educational aspects that help students foster healthy relationships with technology.”

The event is co-sponsored by UB’s Graduate School of Education and the WNYEETF – a group that leverages multidisciplinary expertise to remove structural barriers to equity and ensure all students meet high academic standards. The task force’s initiatives include successful advocacy for equitable school transportation policies and support for programs like the Brainy Bulls Tutoring Mentorship Program, which provides academic support for students in grades 5-12.

For more information about the event, visit UB’s event calendar.