Student Phone Rights Campaign (SPRC) was launched by a group of student advocates attending 4 DCPS schools: Bard DC Early College High School, Dunbar High School, Phelps ACE High School, and McKinley Technology High School in response to inequitable phone policies  across the District. Bard’s policy is especially restrictive. Students have been suspended for having their phones with them.  We believe that all DC students should have the same  rights and responsibilities when it comes to having their phones in school.

Who we are: The Youth Justice Campaign, as part of the Young Women’s Project (YWP) develops youth leaders as system change agents who mobilize and advocate for rights, resources and accountability for DC youth. YWP builds the leadership and power of young people so that they can transform DC institutions to expand rights and opportunities for DC youth. Right now, YWP has 120 youth leaders on the ground in 22 DC public and charter schools – educating students, collecting data, connecting youth to services, and advocating for their peers on health issues.

Purpose of the Petition: This petition has two purposes. First, we are trying to get the Bard phone policy changed ASAP. DCPS has mandated a highly restrictive policy at Bard, which has resulted in many student hardships. We are trying to change the policy.  Next, we trying to build support for student phone equity across the District of Columbia so all students have the same rights. DC Public Schools (DCPS) has general phone policy but it is not implemented evenly or equitably across school and ward. Some students can keep their phones all day and use them as needed; other students suffer suspensions if they bring their phone into school. YWP Youth Advocates believe that students have rights and responsibilities when it comes to having their phones in school.  We hope you will share your experience in this petition.

Student Rights: All DC Public School and Public Charter School students should be:

1. Permitted to keep their phones in their possession at all times during the school day.
2. Permitted to use their phones for personal business during lunch and breaks, outside the classroom.
3. Permitted to use their phones to complete classroom work when school computers are not provided and the teachers gives permission.
4. Not suspended for having or using phones at school

Student Responsibilities:  All DC Public School and Public Charter School students should follow these rules when using phones:

1. Students will  keep phones away and out of sight  during class;
2. Students will keep phones on silent at all times;
3. Students will not record or photographs students or faculty without their permission

Student Reasons: DC public school students rely on their phones to meet family, school and work responsibilities. 

1. Family communications: There might be family updates that families need to share with their students, that they don’t want the school to know about. Students with acute anxiety and ADHD, have a routine schedule to help them; they may forget their plan and start to feel anxious having access to their phone allows them to contact their parents about the schedule.
2. Picking up siblings: Students are responsible for picking up their siblings after school, they need their phones to know where and when they should pick them up.
3. Emergencies: Students should be able to have their cell phones with them incase of an emergency at school. This will allow them to contact their parents. Many students walk home alone or stay after school for a club, and may need to get in touch with their parents or emergency services. Parents need to get in touch with their kids. Keeping a cell phone on hand makes navigating emergencies less stressful.
4. Academic responsibilities: Cell phones include calendar apps, clocks, alarms, and reminders that students can use to help them stay more organized. These tools can help them keep track of assignments, make sure they're not late to class, and plan out their study time.
5. Job communication: Students have jobs right after school and need their phones to know if there are any updates to their shift or any last minute changes to location.
6. Accelerated learning and research: Students will have access to technology. This can be especially beneficial in classrooms where there are not enough working tablets or computers for each student. Students can use their cell phones to conduct research, answering classroom polling questions, or even type their responses to questions or essays. 
7. Being aware of their property: With the current phone policy in place there are times where students don’t know exactly where their phone is. They have to give it to the administration and the administration moves the phone around. There have been times where students found their phones on the table meaning that someone could easily take it, this causes a lot of anxiety.
8. Health accommodations: Students use their phones for several health reasons. If a student is diabetic they need their phone to monitor their blood sugar levels throughout the school day. Some students require a cell phone per their IEP or 504 Plan. 
9. Medical appointments: Some students are in contact with their therapists, doctor, and/or psychiatrist during school hours.
10. Accessibility: Phones are a form of assistive technology- which is used to assist individuals with disabilities. Students how are hard of hearing or have low vision use their phones to take picture of classwork to make it the work easier to see or use apps that have closed captioning. 

Resources:

• DCPS Student and Staff Technology Policy: https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Student%20Technology%20Use%20Agreement%20Policy%20SY21-22_DCPS_08.12.21_English.pdf
• Article on Digital Equity: https://thedcline.org/2022/01/31/education-advocates-to-mayor-dcps-technology-investments-still-needed-to-address-digital-divide/