MARIETTA, Ga. — Marietta City Schools is collaborating with top institutions to study the effects of its recently implemented cellphone initiative.
According to the district, it is working with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University to study the impacts of its initiative on students' well-being and academic performance.
This follows the launch of the cellphone initiative that went into effect on the first day of school -- Aug. 1 -- that required students at Marietta Sixth Grade Academy (MSGA) and Marietta Middle School (MMS) to secure their phones in Yondr pouches throughout the school day. The district said the initiative is designed to reduce distractions and support mental health. It also stated that it has already been met with positive feedback from students, parents and staff.
This collaboration will involve collecting and analyzing data from students, teachers and parents to assess the initiative's effectiveness, according to a release. Key areas of focus include:
- Academic Performance: Evaluating changes in how students engage academically as well as perform as a result of reduced device distractions.
- Mental Health and well-being: Assessing the effects of decreased screen time on students' mental health. This includes anxiety levels, social interaction and overall emotional well-being.
- Parental and community feedback: Gathering insights from parents and the community to understand how the policy is perceived and how it affects family dynamics on digital device usage.
Marietta City Schools Superintendent Dr. Grant Rivera said the cellphone initiative and collaboration are about understanding how to create the best possible emotional and academic environment for students.
"This collaboration not only helps us implement best practices but also provides the research needed to truly understand how our policies impact student well-being and academic success," Rivera said. "We're committed to leading the way in creating a balanced educational environment that prepares our students for success in every aspect of their lives."
A professor of epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, Julie Gazmararian, has already been analyzing the effect of the district's cellphone policy.
"Early feedback suggests this program is having a tremendous influence on improving students' focus in the classroom while also fostering increased interpersonal interactions throughout the rest of the school day," Gazmararian said. "With so much attention being paid to the negative impacts of social media, Marietta City Schools' program could be a model that other public schools will soon follow."
The district said the long-term goal is to provide actionable insights that can be shared with institutions nationwide.
