LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas' Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom have little in common ideologically, but both are rapidly becoming bipartisan in their states. has been a vocal supporter of this idea, which is gaining ground. : Students should be prohibited from using cell phones during class.
At least eight states have enacted such bans in the past two years, and several more are considering proposals this year.
Here's a look at efforts by states to seek such bans.
Why do states ban cell phone use in schools?
The push to ban mobile phones has been driven by concerns about the impact of screen time on children's mental health and complaints from teachers that mobile phones are a constant distraction in the classroom.
Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who urged parliament to require warnings on social media platforms about the impact on young people's lives, said schools should have phone-free hours.
Nationally, 77% of U.S. schools say they prohibit the use of cell phones for non-academic purposes in school, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. But that number is misleading. This does not mean that students follow these prohibitions or that all schools enforce them.
Kim Whitman, co-founder of the Phone Free Schools Movement, said the problem is growing as parents and teachers in both red and blue states struggle with the effects of children's mobile device use. said.
“It doesn't matter if you live in a big city or a rural town, an urban or suburban area, all kids are struggling and needing seven hours during class to get away from the pressure of phones and social media. I need a break,” she said.
Which states have enacted bans?
At least eight states have enacted measures banning or restricting student cell phone use in schools: California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia.
The scope of policy is wide-ranging. Florida is the first state to crack down on cell phones in schools, requiring all public schools to ban cell phone use during school hours and blocking social media access on district Wi-Fi. passed a law in 2023 mandating it.
The 2024 California law requires the state's approximately 1,000 school districts to develop their own cell phone policies by July 2026.
Some other states do not ban cell phones, but encourage school districts to impose such restrictions or provide funding to store cell phones during the day.
Last year, Sanders announced a pilot program that would provide grants to schools that adopt toll-free phone policies, and more than 100 school districts signed on. Sanders currently wants to require all school districts to ban cell phone use during school hours, but said his proposal would leave it up to districts to decide how to develop their policies.
“Teachers know that (cell phones) are a huge distraction, but much more importantly, they're a huge distraction,” Sanders told reporters Thursday. “This is having an impact on the mental health of our students.”
Other governors who have recently called for bans include New Hampshire's Kelly Ayotte, who was sworn in this month, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has indicated she would explore a statewide policy, but has not provided details.
What is against the ban?
The ban on cell phones has faced opposition from some parents who say children need to be able to contact them directly in an emergency.
Some parents pointed to recent school shootings and said that for some students who thought it might be the last time, having access to a cell phone was the only way to communicate with loved ones. It is pointed out that it was a method to take.
But supporters of the ban say students' cellphones could pose an additional risk by distracting them in an emergency or revealing their location during a gunfight. .
Parents who oppose the ban also say they want their children to be able to use cell phones for other needs, such as coordinating transportation.
Keri Rodriguez, president of the National Parents Association, said she agrees with the dangers social media poses to children, but said the bans states are seeking take too broad an approach. She says banning devices in class won't solve fundamental problems like bullying and the dangers of social media.
“We weren't doing our job as adults to teach our kids the skills they needed to actually operate this technology,” she said. “After school, when the kids were alone, I just kicked the can down the street and threw it into the back of the pool.''
