WASHINGTON – Schools nationwide are reviewing their cell phone policies following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling has banned police from searching suspects’ mobile phones.
Many schools allow students to use cell phones and other mobile devices as personal learning devices. And although the tools are strictly regulated to certain times and activities, student sometimes use the devices to engage in general misbehavior.
Thus, many principals search students’ cell phones as part of an investigation, with some officials claiming that the searches have found evidence of acts of violence, cheating or vandalism.
However, the ruling might prompt school officials to refrain searching a student’s mobile device, which some administrators believe will make schools less safe, USA Today reports.
Many administrators and parents believe that until there is further clarification on how the ruling affects schools, that it is dangerous to continue to search students’ mobile devices.
Analysts are predicting that some school systems will be making changes to their cell phone policies because of the ruling.
