Anne Arundel Schools Seek Input on Device Ban and AI Rules at Evening Sessions

Students in Anne Arundel County could be barred from using cell phones, smart watches and other electronic devices during the school day under a policy now under community review. The county school board has also introduced a separate policy setting parameters around how artificial intelligence is used in schools.

Superintendent Mark Bedell opened the first public session Tuesday, where he heard directly from parents, teachers and community members. Beginning this week, Bedell is holding Community Connection Sessions at high schools across the county to gather comment on both issues.

At Tuesday's event, participants broke into small groups to discuss artificial intelligence in classrooms, a subject drawing strong opinions on both sides. The groups also discussed the electronics ban, which is slated to begin next school year, and what enforcement would look like.

"Too many times people feel that things are being done to them and when I hear over and over people say when we're putting a policy together, they'll come to a school board meeting and say we didn't know about it. We didn't have any opportunity to weigh in," Bedell said.

Bedell said he wants students ready for a future that includes AI. "So we want our kids to be excellent users over AI rather than AI being excellent users of them," he said, adding that the sessions will help the district balance traditional instruction with preparation for the world students will enter after graduation.

On the device ban, Bedell said students are in school for 19.3% of the week and that time should focus on teaching and learning. "They have 81% of the time when they can decide how they wanna leverage their technology but while they're in our schools and that's what the law is saying, we need our kids to engage in collaboration," he said.

The remaining sessions run from 6 to 8 p.m. on these dates: Nov. 2 at Glen Burnie High School, Nov. 5 at Northeast High School, Nov. 10 at Arundel High School, Nov. 12 at Southern High School, Nov. 17 at Annapolis High School, and Nov. 19 at Meade High School.

Bedell urged residents to attend. "We need people to come out," he said. "The district is asking for your thoughts on these things that are highly controversial."