Florida led the way in 2023 by becoming the first state to regulate cellphone use in schools, and now more than half of U.S. states have followed suit, with additional states likely to introduce similar laws soon. Alaska and Nebraska recently became the 25th and 26th states to enact such laws, with other measures awaiting approval across several states, including Florida, Missouri, and New Hampshire.

The trend has gained significant momentum this year, with legislation passing quickly in states ranging from New York to Oklahoma. Lawmakers from both parties agree that phones have a negative impact on students, particularly their social and emotional well-being.

Connecticut Representative Jennifer Leeper, a Democrat and co-chair of the Education Committee, called phones “a cancer on our kids” due to their role in fostering isolation, decreased attention, and reduced learning outcomes. Republican representatives have echoed similar concerns, with Georgia’s Rep. Scott Hilton describing a recently passed law banning phones in grades K-8 as a “mental health bill” and “public safety bill.”

To date, 26 states have implemented some form of phone regulation, with another 8 states and the District of Columbia offering guidelines or recommendations to local school districts. This year alone, 17 states have taken action, with Nebraska’s Republican Governor Jim Pillen recently signing a statewide ban on phone use throughout the school day, and Alaska lawmakers also passing regulations. Other states are poised to follow suit, as new laws await signatures in states like Florida and Missouri.

Focus Shifts Toward Banning Phones All Day

Initially, Florida’s law only banned phones during instructional time, but a new bill awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ approval would extend the ban to the entire school day for elementary and middle school students. To date, 10 states and D.C. have implemented full-day bans, a shift away from the previous trend of banning phones only during class time.

North Dakota’s Governor, Kelly Armstrong, hailed his state’s full-day ban as “a huge win” for teachers, parents, and school officials. He noted that the policy had improved student interactions during lunch breaks. Advocates, like Nathan Hoffman from the education think tank ExcelinEd, argue that full-day bans help prevent issues like students recording or initiating fights outside of class time.

Some States Allow Districts to Set Their Own Policies

In other states, especially those with strong traditions of local control, lawmakers are opting for policies that give individual school districts the freedom to decide how to regulate phones. For example, Maine is considering a new bill that would require districts to adopt their own policies, rather than imposing a statewide ban.

However, not all states have moved forward with cellphone regulations. In Wyoming, lawmakers voted down a bill that would have imposed a statewide ban, with some arguing that teachers or parents should determine the rules instead.

Exceptions to the Rules

Many states are including exceptions to their phone bans, particularly for students with medical needs or special education plans. Some states are also allowing phones for translation purposes or if a teacher requires them for educational activities. Uncommon exceptions include South Carolina’s rule allowing volunteer firefighters to carry phones, and West Virginia’s new law permitting smartwatches as long as they aren’t used for communication.

Parental and Student Pushback

A significant point of contention for many parents is the ability to contact their children during emergencies, such as school shootings. Tinya Brown, a mother whose daughter survived a school shooting, expressed concern over the lack of access to cellphones in such situations. Some laws provide alternatives for emergency communication, allowing students to use their devices once the immediate threat has passed.

While some students, like Louisiana’s Kaytlin Villescas, have led campaigns against the bans, advocating for education on responsible phone use instead, the broader trend seems to be moving toward restricting phone access during school hours.

Funding Challenges

While a few states, such as New York, have allocated funding to help schools implement the bans (New York, for example, plans to invest $13.5 million), most states have not provided additional resources for schools to purchase storage solutions like phone pouches. This lack of funding could complicate the implementation of these new regulations, according to advocates like Hoffman from ExcelinEd.

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