Some students question cellphone bans as Ann Arbor schools work to curb distractions

ANN ARBOR, MI — A year after piloting cellphone restrictions at one high school , Ann Arbor Public Schools may soon test limiting use for teens at other sites.

AAPS officials detailed results of a ban on cellphone use in classrooms in the 2024-25 school year at Skyline High during an Ann Arbor School Board meeting last month, largely praising the success in minimizing distractions for students.

Teachers reported, although “some students were still struggling to comply,” parents and teachers were happy to see kids more engaged through class without their mobile or electronic devices, Skyline Principal Casey Elmore said during the presentation.

Some feedback from students, however, is more mixed as district administrators prepare to roll out similar policies at other AAPS schools.

For