Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, both MCPS and WCHS have cracked down on student use of personal mobile devices (PMDs). Due to the severe backlash MCPS received from students and parents, as of March 2025, these PMD policies, which do not allow students to have their phones or other PMDs on them during classes, are no longer being enforced.

“I think it is great that we are able to use our phones in class and not have them be so heavily policed,” WCHS senior Tellie Phone said. “I think it is very beneficial for students to be able to absorb information through their phones and other PMDs because they allow learning to be more tailored to individual students.”

The return of the use of PMDs in the classroom is being met with very positive feedback, particularly from students. PMDs allow for a whole new set of note-taking and studying methods, which open new possibilities for students’ success. Additionally, teachers report that the return of PMDs in the classroom is not as distracting as one might think.

“When I heard the news that PMDs were no longer being restricted, I thought that PMDs being back in the classroom would cause students to be distracted and unengaged with class activities and assignments,” WCHS teacher Phonita Cady said. “The actual results have been quite the opposite.”

Students and teachers have found that the emergence of PMDs in the classroom allows students to have better access to help during independent learning. Educational apps allow students to get informational help on general topics or specific questions whenever they need it. This allows students to maximize class time as they do not have to wait for a teacher to get to their individual question.

“Sometimes, especially in math, when we are doing individual work, I have spent the majority of a class period waiting for help from a teacher,” Phone said. “With PMD policies no longer being enforced, I am able to use certain educational apps that can help me work through a problem immediately.”

Additionally, as technology continues to advance, it is crucial that students are able to learn alongside all types of technology and learn to regulate their own usage. This will help to ensure that students are being prepped for not only the independence of college but also their future careers.

“Students’ access to PMDs during instructional time allows them to be able to learn how to function alongside technology and become aware of what times are appropriate for PMD use,” Cady said. “I have seen improvements in students’ ability to communicate and efficiently use class time with the return of PMDs.”