Senate Bill 139 Intermediate School Personal Technology Device (PTD) Policy

Mustang Families,

As you may have heard, for the 2025–2026 school year, a new state law (Oklahoma Senate Bill 139) requires all public schools in Oklahoma to prohibit student use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices from the first instructional bell to the last (dismissal) bell of the school day.

This law is designed to help create safer, more focused learning environments for students. Mustang Public Schools had already taken steps in recent years to reduce classroom distractions caused by personal devices, but SB 139 goes beyond Mustang’s locally adopted policy (BOE Policy #5080) and forces additional changes to the PTD guidelines we previously implemented.

What’s Changing?
 

We understand that this change may be challenging for some students and families. Your support is crucial in helping Mustang Public Schools comply with the law while maintaining a safe and supportive school environment.

By reinforcing the PTD policy at home, you can help your child fully engage in classroom activities. This will lead to better academic performance, stronger social connections, and improved mental well-being, all goals that remain at the heart of this decision.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support in making these important changes. It is truly our honor to partner with you to ensure your child’s success, and as always, we appreciate your support of Mustang Public Schools.

---

2024-2025 MPS PTD Message:

MPS Intermediate School Families,

We are excited to start the new school year with a focus on enhancing our students' learning environment. To support this goal, Mustang Public Schools is implementing a new Personal Technology Device (PTD) policy which aims to minimize distractions and maximize the educational experience for all students.

Key Points of the New Policy:

• PreK-6th Grade:
  • Students are not allowed to use PTDs while on school grounds.
  • PTDs include but are not limited to laptops, computers, tablets, cell phones, smartphones, smart watches, ear pods, or headphones.
  • Devices primarily for gaming and portable speakers are expressly prohibited.
• General Guidelines:
  • Students are allowed to carry their PTDs in their backpacks, but the devices must be turned off during school hours.
  • The possession of PTDs is a privilege and may be revoked if the policy is violated.
  • The school is not responsible for any theft or damage to PTDs and is not obligated to investigate any loss or damage.

Consequences for Policy Violations:

• 1st violation: Cell phone/PTD will be kept in the office & picked up by the student at the end of the day;
• 2nd violation: Cell phone/PTD will be kept in the office & picked up by the student at the end of the day;
• 3rd violation: Cell phone/PTD will be kept in office until a parent/guardian picks it up in the office;
• 4th violation: Cell phone/PTD will be kept in office until a parent/guardian picks it up in the office and meets with administrators to discuss further actions.

We understand that this change might be challenging, but we believe it is crucial for maintaining a focused and safe learning environment. In fact, many of our schools have been practicing this in previous years with great success; this is just a standardization of that practice for all schools.   If you would like to read more about why this decision was made or see the specific plan for Intermediate Schools throughout Mustang PS, please see the sections at the end of this message.  

Your support is essential in helping us create a more focused and supportive learning environment for our students. By reinforcing our PTD policy at home, you can help your child fully engage in classroom activities, leading to better academic performance, improved mental well-being, and stronger social interactions. These benefits are the foundation for this policy.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support in making these important changes.  It is our honor to partner with you to ensure your child’s success, and as always, we appreciate your support of Mustang Public Schools.  

---

THE WHY

---

Mustang Public Schools recognizes the positive impact technology can have in schools.  MPS adopted a PTD Policy starting with the 2013-2014 school year.  The policy allowed students to bring personally owned devices to school to be utilized to help enhance their instructional experience.  However, over time we have seen the negative impacts that personal devices can also have on the student, classroom and the school community.  Many students are distracted and some are misusing the device which further takes away from their education. Research has consistently shown that the presence of cell phones in schools leads to increased distractions and discipline issues, which detract from the educational experience.

A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology revealed that students who are exposed to mobile phone use in the classroom are more likely to experience a decrease in academic performance and attention. The researchers found that even the mere presence of a mobile phone can reduce cognitive capacity and attentiveness. A report from Common Sense Media highlighted that excessive use of mobile devices can lead to increased anxiety and lower self-esteem among students, which negatively impacts their overall academic performance and well-being. The study also noted that students who use their phones frequently during class time are more likely to report feelings of anxiety and depression. A study by the Pew Research Center indicated that cell phone distractions are a significant contributor to classroom management problems. 

Teachers have reported that the constant checking of phones and engagement with social media disrupts the flow of lessons and hinders student engagement and participation.

In MPS, we have observed an increase in disruptions and disciplinary incidents directly related to the misuse of PTDs. These incidents range from cheating during exams to inappropriate social media 

use and cyberbullying. By eliminating or limiting the use of these devices during school hours for our students, we aim to create a more focused and supportive learning environment conducive to student success.

Middle School students will be allowed to utilize PTD’s up to 5 minutes prior to school starting and once school dismisses for the regular scheduled school day.  Outside of those times Middle School students may need access to PTD’s for communication with parents in regards to before and after school programs including practices, rehearsals, meetings, etc. For our high school students, while we recognize the importance of technology in their education and personal lives, we believe that limited access to PTDs will help strike a balance between necessary communication and minimizing distractions. Many of our High School students are involved in other programs outside the regular classroom setting including, but not limited to; concurrent enrollment, Career Tech, service learning, internships, work, etc. therefore we feel that many of them need access to their devices. We are also trying to help prepare them for their next steps, whether that is college, career tech, military, or work force. 

As we begin the 24-25 school year we have 1:1 (one to one) devices for students to utilize for their education.  Every student grades 5-12 are provided with a chromebook, whereas grades 2-12 and PreK-1st have access to an iPad. MPS is also implementing Classwize on all school owned devices that will be used by students.  Classwize is a powerful tool designed to enhance the learning experience and ensure a safe, productive classroom environment. Classwize allows teachers to monitor and manage student activity on digital devices in real-time, providing visibility into what students are working on and enabling timely support and intervention. The program will allow teachers screen monitoring, website blocking, and real-time alerts. Classwize helps keep students focused on their educational tasks while safeguarding them from potential online distractions and dangers. This fosters a more engaged and secure learning environment but also empowers teachers to maximize instructional time and effectiveness. We believe Classwize will be an invaluable asset to our educational community, supporting our commitment to providing a high-quality and safe learning experience for all students.

---

MPS Intermediate Schools
Personal Technology Device Policy

Technology can be a wonderful resource in education. However, the use of cell phones and other personal technology devices (PTDs) are incredibly distracting to the learning environment. MPS has the following policy to ensure the least amount of distraction to our students' learning experiences.

All cell phone/PTD practices in MPS grades PreK-6th will follow Mustang Public School district policy #2140. PTDs include but are not limited to laptops, computers, tablets, cellular phones, smart phones, smart watches, gaming devices, earpods/airpods, or headphones. Devices whose primary purpose is gaming, along with any/all portable speakers are expressly prohibited at all times.

Cell Phones/PTDs are not allowed while at school.  

• This includes once the student arrives on campus and until they leave the campus. 

Standard consequences of violation of school cell phone/PTD policy/contract (actual consequences may vary due to severity of the violation):

• 1st violation: Cell phone/PTD will be kept in the office & picked up by the student at the end of the day;
• 2nd violation: Cell phone/PTD will be kept in the office & picked up by the student at the end of the day;
• 3rd violation: Cell phone/PTD will be kept in office until a parent/guardian picks it up in the office;
• 4th violation: Cell phone/PTD will be kept in office until a parent/guardian picks it up in the office and meets with administrators to discuss further actions.

*These consequences apply to the incidents per student and not incidents per PTD.

*School administration has the discretion to alter the consequences when necessary. 

*The school and its employees are in no way responsible for any theft or damage of cell phones/PTDs while on school grounds. The school is not obligated to investigate the loss or damage of any cell phone/PTD.

*Any deviation from this plan will be at the discretion of school administration.

 

The MPS Policy & Procedure Manual, along with the Student Handbook, will be updated in the coming days to reflect these changes.