Eleven is too young, period. We only got a cell phone for our home about 18 months ago, for travel. As the plan offered a two-for-one deal, we let our then 16 year old use the non-photo cell phone. She dropped it once (no harm done) and has gone over her minutes only a couple of times, usually due to messages she receives, not sends. It was invaluable when she had last minute changes in her after-school schedule which had her shuttling between her classes at the high school and work at the middle school (she's been lighting director for the middle school annual play for the last 2-3 years.)
Our school district policy does not directly address cell phone use; it's covered under other possibly disruptive, distracting behavior. Cheating with a cell phone is treated the same as cheating with notes up your sleeve or written on your palm etc. Theft of a cell phone is treated as theft of any other student item. The behavior, not the technology, is addressed. So far, it works, at least as far as high school students go. Can't say it's the same for middle school but I expect there are fewer students who have them, so far. At any rate it's still a newish phenomenon which will shake out over time.
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