You are invited to join us for our virtual event: No Cell, Bell to Bell: The Case for Full-Day Smart Phone Bans in School
When: April 13 @ 11am EDT
Where: Virtual Event (Zoom link)
Join Paragon for an expert group discussion about the effectiveness of banning student cell phone use in schools.
The evidence is clear: Prohibitions on student smart phone use during school hours massively reduce classroom disruptions, increase focus and face-to-face interaction among learners, and increase student attendance at after-school and sporting events. Early evidence suggests that the policy is associated with gains in academic achievement, which are especially pronounced among low-income children.
The most effective and comprehensive policies prohibit student cell phone use for the entire school day. Half of the states have implemented some form of “bell-to-bell” ban and are seeing positive results, with Kansas becoming the latest state to pass a comprehensive full-day ban.
The discussion, moderated by Paragon’s Matt Robinson, will be driven by expert researchers David Marshall and Timothy Pressley, with practical policy perspectives being offered by Kansas state Senator Chase Blasi and Indiana state Senator Jeff Raatz.
About the panelists:
Chase Blasi is the Majority Leader of the Kansas Senate. A lifelong Kansan, Blasi began his political career in high school when he was elected to the Colwich City Council, becoming the youngest elected official in Kansas at the time. A 2016 graduate of Newman University in Wichita, he has gone on to serve in many public service and policy roles. Notably, he served as Legislative Director at the Kansas Department of Revenue and as Chief of Staff for Kansas Senate Presidents Susan Wagle and Ty Masterson before winning election to the Kansas Senate in late 2024.
Jeff Raatz, currently serves as the Indiana State Senator for District 27, which contains Henry, Union and Wayne Counties and a portion of Franklin County. Jeff was raised in Northern Michigan on a 1000-acre apple and cherry farm managed by his father. Learning to work at an early age taught him to appreciate earning wages through hard work with honesty and integrity. Jeff served in the United States Army upon graduation from High School, where he further strengthened his commitment to honor, integrity, and loyalty to America.
Tim Pressley, Ph.D., is an associate professor of psychology at Christopher Newport University and is a faculty member for the university’s master’s in teaching program and the Center for Education Research and Policy. He received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Florida State University and has a background in elementary education. Before receiving his Ph.D., Dr. Pressley was an elementary school teacher, an experience that is driving force behind his research. His current research focuses on teachers’ lives, specifically the impact of COVID-19 on teachers, teacher effectiveness, and teacher well-being. His work has been published in Educational Researcher, Teaching and Teacher Education, School Psychology, and The Teacher Educator. He has also co-authored two books, Pandemic Lessons: Disruption, Innovation, and What Schools Need to Move Forward and the most recent edition of Reading Instruction that Works: The Case for Balanced Teaching.
David Marshall, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the College of Education at Auburn University. He began his career in education as a middle and high school social studies teacher, where he taught in both traditional public schools and public charter schools in Philadelphia, PA. He has since worked with teacher residency programs in Virginia for seven years, serving in several capacities. In terms of professional service, Dr. Marshall serves on three editorial boards for peer-reviewed journals. He previously served as the program chair of the Charters and School Choice SIG for AERA. He recently served two terms as the chair of the Alabama Public Charter School Commission, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Breakthrough Charter School.
Matt Robinson is Paragon Health Institute’s executive vice president. In this role, he serves as a strategic partner to the president in helping to implement organizational vision, provide operational direction, and monitor progress toward annual goals across the institute. He is a former presidential speechwriter, corporate executive, journalist, and book author.
