The Milford Board of Education will consider adopting a new districtwide policy governing student cell phone use when it meets later this month, a proposal district officials say is intended to reduce classroom distractions and improve student well-being.
In a message to families, Superintendent Travis Moorman said the proposal comes as school districts across the country continue to address the growing impact of cell phones in the classroom.
“Many may have noticed the national trend occurring related to the student use and possession of cell phones in school,” Moorman said. “We recognize that using cell phones in our daily lives has become as common as breathing—so routine that we rarely notice how dependent we’ve become on them.”
Moorman said the district’s proposed Board Policy 5114 – Student Cell Phone Use is based on growing research linking excessive phone use to lower academic performance and social-emotional challenges.
“There is also mounting evidence collected through large-scale research conducted by multiple professional organizations indicating there is strong evidence that phone use is distracting and is associated with poorer social/emotional health and lower academic performance, especially for students in grades K-8,” he said.
The proposed policy was developed in accordance with Delaware Senate Bill 106, which requires school districts to adopt student cell phone policies beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
If approved, the policy would establish districtwide expectations for when students may possess and use cell phones during the school day, while outlining consequences for violations through the district’s Student Code of Conduct. The proposal also includes exceptions for emergencies, instructional purposes authorized by school staff, and circumstances involving students with documented medical needs, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), or Section 504 plans, consistent with state law and district policy.
Under the proposal, parents who need to contact their children during the school day would continue to do so through the school’s main office rather than by directly contacting students on personal devices. The district says the goal is to create learning environments with fewer distractions while maintaining appropriate communication channels and student safety.
Moorman encouraged parents to review the proposed policy carefully before it comes before the Board of Education.
“To this end, the Milford School District has formalized Board Policy 5114 – Student Cell Phone Use, which establishes guidelines and expectations for the possession and use of cell phones during the school day by students,” he said. “This policy was established in accordance with Senate Bill 106, and we ask that parents closely review the policy, specifically the consequences outlined in our Student Code of Conduct.”
He added that the district believes the policy will benefit students both inside and outside the classroom.
“With your help, we can work together to create an environment where students can thrive both socially and academically,” Moorman said.
The Milford Board of Education is expected to have a first read on the proposed policy at its next regular meeting. Parents and community members can review the full text of the proposed Board Policy 5114 on the Milford School District’s BoardDocs portal before the meeting. Members of the public can comment on the proposed policy during the public comment portion of the meeting. Anyone can sign up to speak during public comment when attending the meeting in person, but those who wish to speak while attending online must sign up to do so by clicking here.
