States Move Forward on School Cellphone Bans

Several states, including Georgia, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Oklahoma, are considering or have proposed legislation to ban or restrict cellphone use in schools, particularly for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. In Georgia, the Distraction-Free Education Act seeks to create a plan for securing students' phones during school hours, with successful implementations already reported in some districts like Marietta City Schools. Similar legislative efforts in Wisconsin and Minnesota aim to address distractions caused by phones, with proponents citing improvements in classroom focus and student interaction. Critics argue that many schools already have policies in place and express concerns about mandating restrictions at the state level, potentially overstepping local control. The Minnesota proposal, for instance, includes exceptions for medical needs and individualized education programs, while Oklahoma's legislation, House Bill 1276, has already passed committee stages and is backed by bipartisan support. These initiatives reflect a broader trend, as 19 states have already enacted some form of cellphone policy in schools.