Phila. Schools Review Cell Phone Policies for Students

Should students be allowed to have cell phones in schools?  The Philadelphia School District is taking a look at its policies.  

KYW's Mike DeNardo reports that in Philadelphia, individual school principals decide whether and where students can have cell phones. Some allow students to keep phones in their lockers. Other principals collect them at the beginning of the day. 

Superintendent Arlene Ackerman says she and new school safety chief Myron Patterson are taking a look at the district's policy: 

"We're reviewing it and trying to see how that relates to some of the incidents in some of our schools.  So we're starting with the persistently dangerous schools and trying to take a look at the incident reports and see, should we make some adjustments there?" 

Ackerman says Patterson is preparing a policy recommendation for her, and no decisions have been made.  But she says when it comes to students and cell phones, one thing is clear: 

"What they can't do is use them in school. We all know that."