Williamson County Schools Moves Toward ‘Away for the Day’ Cell Phone Policy After 11-1 Board Vote

WCS may be changing its cell phone ban policy soon. (Background: Canva; Logo: WCS)

Students across Williamson County Schools (WCS) may soon be required to keep their cell phones completely out of sight and off their person during the school day.

In an 11–1 vote Monday night, the Williamson County Board of Education approved on first reading an update to its existing cell phone policy that would move the district toward a full “away for the day” standard beginning in the 2026–27 school year.

District Nine board member Dr. Clare Reeves, who introduced the changes, said the revision builds on feedback from the district’s Technology Use Committee and reflects growing research on how smartphones affect student focus and school culture.

Dr. Claire Reeves, WCS Board Member

“We did get feedback from the tech use committee,” Reeves said. “They prioritized evaluating the policy we passed in June and gave us feedback on changes they’d like to see incorporated. I took that feedback and addressed every point they brought forward. The only place I differed with their recommendation was allowing high school students to continue using phones during lunch.”

“Every district and state that has gone in the direction of “away for the day” has reported nothing but positive results — from improved academic outcomes to reduced disciplinary referrals and bullying to creating a stronger school culture,” Reeves added.

A Shift from ‘Silent and Not Used’ to ‘Off the Body’

The board first adopted its current cell phone rules in June, requiring K–8 students to silence devices during instructional time and allowing high school students limited use at lunch. Under Reeves’s proposal, that lunch exception would be removed, and all students would be required to store devices completely “off the body,” not in a pocket, purse, or backpack, for the entire school day.

Reeves also proposed delaying implementation until August 1, 2026, to allow the district time to communicate the change to families and develop systems for parent–student contact through email or office channels during the school day.

The updated policy would still allow exceptions for medical needs, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and emergencies.

Research and Community Perspectives

During public comment, Adam Wright, a Vanderbilt professor of medicine and biomedical informatics and parent of four WCS students, praised the move and cited data on smartphone use and cognitive performance.

Adam Wright, Vanderbilt professor and WCS parent.

“As a scientist, I believe in using data to make decisions,” Wright said. “A cognition study from the University of Texas found that participants whose phone was in another room performed better on several tasks than those who had their phone sitting on a desk, in a pocket, or in a backpack. The mere presence of one’s smartphone reduces available cognitive capacity and impairs cognitive functioning.”

Wright, who served on the district’s Screen Time Committee, described seeing students disengaged during lunch because of device use.

“I noticed four lunch tables — three of them were silent, kids just using their phones and ignoring each other. The non-phone table was laughing, playing games, and talking. You could really see the difference,” he said.

Not all speakers agreed on the timeline or extent of restrictions. Beverly Pervvis, representing the Williamson County Education Association, said she supports policies that respect teacher input but urged the board not to make “drastic mid-year changes.”

“Don’t make it completely away for the day right now,” Pervvis said. “At least have some cell phone areas in high schools that students can utilize at lunchtimes and wait until the next school year.”

State Law and Local Context

The proposed changes come months after Tennessee lawmakers approved a new state law requiring districts to adopt cell phone policies prohibiting student use during instructional time. Williamson County’s proposal goes further than the state mandate by extending the restriction through lunch and requiring devices to be physically separated from students.

If approved on second reading next month, Williamson County would become one of the first large districts in the state to adopt a full K–12 “away for the day” rule.

What Comes Next

The second reading and final vote on both policy changes are expected at the November board meeting. If the updated phone policy is approved, district officials will spend the next year developing implementation plans, staff training, signage, and clear procedures for enforcement.

Superintendent Jason Golden is expected to release additional guidance for families this spring on how parent–student communication will function during the school day once phones are no longer accessible.

“Ultimately,” Reeves said, “this is about creating a culture where students are focused, connected, and engaged in learning — and in each other. That’s what we want for every Williamson County school.”