NEW YORK (TNND) — As students head back to school, many will face new restrictions on cell phone use in classrooms. At least 22 states have enacted legislation to limit cell phone access in K-12 schools, citing studies that highlight the negative impact of these devices as distractions.
Erica Sands, director of outreach for Defending Education, discussed the issue, noting the lack of differentiation in policies based on student age. “I think there is a difference when you’re talking about elementary school and middle school and high school students,” she said.
Some schools have adopted a “bell-to-bell” policy, prohibiting phone use from the start of the school day until dismissal. Sands shared that her son’s school recently changed its policy to restrict phone use between 8:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
The debate continues over whether high school juniors and seniors should have access to their phones during lunch, with Sands expressing uncertainty about the necessity of such restrictions for older students. “Whereas if you ask me that about a seventh grader, I would of course say, of course they shouldn’t have their phone at lunch,” she said.
Concerns over school safety, particularly the fear of school shootings, drive some parents to advocate for their children to have phone access at all times. However, enforcement of these policies remains a challenge, especially after the lax enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Illinois, a separate controversy has emerged over a new policy requiring annual mental health screenings for students starting in third grade. Critics, including Sands, argue that this represents government overreach. “This is literally number one. It’s total mission creep, right?” she said, emphasizing that parents have the right to opt out of these screenings under federal law.
As schools and state governments continue to navigate these issues, the debate over cell phone use and student privacy remains a contentious topic.