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New policy bans phones during class for grades 6-12

Providence Public School District · Jun 16, 2026

Day-to-day

What happened

The board's Policy Committee adopted a Student Cell Phone Policy on a second read requiring that phones stay away — not out on desks or in use — during instructional time for students in grades 6 through 12.

Why it matters to families

This directly changes a daily rule students and teachers deal with in every middle- and high-school classroom, joining a wave of similar phone restrictions many districts nationally have adopted to reduce classroom distraction.

The evidence

The filed minutes record: '4.1 Student Cell Phone Policy – 2nd Read. Amendments needed to say that no phones should be out during instructional time for grades 6-12. MSV – Newmann, Fontes (3-0) MOTION APPROVED.'

The source

Providence School Board Policy Committee — 2026-06-16 — Minutes

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