It is hard to believe that the iPhone debuted 17 years ago, on June 29, 2007, launching the modern smartphone era that now includes virtually every K-12 student. The Washington Post reported that in 2009-2010, before cellphones became ubiquitous, schools generally barred their use. A national survey that year found that 91% of all schools prohibited nonacademic use of cellphones during school hours. Things sure have changed in the last 14 years. According to a 2023 Common Sense Media study, some 97% of 11- to 17-year-olds now use their phones primarily for personal reasons during the school day. In today’s hyper-connected world, the cellphone has become an essential part of daily life.