There has been a steep decline in our children’s mental health, social skills, and academic performance directly correlates to the rise of smartphones and social media apps. Studies show cellphone restrictions in school have a positive impact on academic performance, and even students say restrictions have improved their mental health. Twenty-seven states have already passed legislation restricting these devices during school hours including New York, Virginia, and Florida; 18 of these states have instituted bell-to-bell bans.
To address these concerns, I’ve introduced Senate Bill 1014 to require schools to adopt and implement a policy that prohibits the use of phones during the school day. The bill provides flexibility for each individual school district to craft a policy that works best for their community, including determining where students must keep their phones throughout the day (for example, backpacks, lockers, smartphone bags, etc.). Exceptions would be made for:
- Students with medical conditions,
- Students with individualized education plans that require the use of a personal communication device,
- English as a second language learners who use cellphones for translation purposes, and
- Very limited instances for teachers who want to use cellphones as instructional tools with approval by the school principal.
Read more about the legislation here.