By: Sofia Escudero

McCaskey High school has been known as one of the largest and most diverse high schools in Pennsylvania and in the 2026-2027 school year, McCaskey is planning to introduce two major policy changes: the elimination of early release Wednesdays and a stricter implementation of phone rules. These changes reflect the effort that the School District of Lancaster (SDOL) is putting forth to improve overall academic performance in McCaskey. These changes are sure to have significant implications for not just the students, but teachers as well, along with the overall school environments.

One of the biggest shifts students will notice at McCaskey is the tightening of cell phone restrictions. McCaskey has already had rules put in place where students may not use phones during class unless absolutely necessary with teacher permission, but these rules were never strictly enforced. Now, new policies being discussed in SDOL are leaning towards a full cell phone ban. The main goal of this change is to improve students’ focus in class by reducing distractions such as social media. Lawmakers have argued that students learn better and interact more with one another when they are not constantly on devices.

For McCaskey students, this new change would be a big adjustment. In the 21st century, phones are a major part of everyday life. They are used for communication, entertainment, and even schoolwork. Taking phones away completely during school days may feel restrictive, especially during lunch or flex periods. McCaskey junior Britney Castillo shared, “I bring my phone to school sometimes when I forget to charge my iPad and it has helped me stay up to date with work and I can also write down my reminders for homework.” On the other hand some students may see benefits from a phone ban. A phone ban, if effective, can lead to more interactions between students and teachers. McCaskey senior Valerie Gray shared “In one of my old schools we were not allowed to use our phones, and honestly I was able to learn better. Students were participating more and it was helpful to have those conversations with each other.” 

Another change coming to McCaskey is the elimination of half days. While the phone ban has not been fully confirmed, the elimination of half days has been. SDOL has had an early release day every second Wednesday of every month for decades. In the newly released 2026-2027 SDOL calendar, half days have been completely eliminated. This new schedule has been implemented due to multiple reasons such as low attendance rates and half day’s a hassle to families with younger students who may not be able to find adequate care for their children. 

Although half days are eliminated, there seem to be more full days off with a new “fall break” introduced during October 9th-13th. This change can have both positive and negative effects on the SDOL community. On one hand, full days off may give students more time to rest and complete assignments. On the other hand, losing half days takes away the shorter, less stressful school days which many students look forward to having. Junior Anira Acevedo shared, “In the new calendar we only have one day off in April and May combined which is also the test season. It is just very stressful for all students, not having any half days to relax may just increase our stress.”

Overall the upcoming changes coming to McCaskey in the 2026-2027 school year have both positive and negative aspects. Tighter phone policies aim to create a more focused environment, while changes to the schedule may improve efficiency in classes. Though some students may not like these changes at first, they are created to give McCaskey a better academic experience.