Cellphones and other digital devices in all Kansas K-12 schools are about to go the way of the apple on the teacher’s desk as the House has agreed with their counterparts in the Senate to ban the electronic devices and send the Senate Substitute for the Substitute for House Bill 2299 to Governor Kelly for her signature. The governor has indicated she supports cellphone bans in schools.
The measure includes nonpublic schools as well. Some leeway is granted to students in public schools who need the devices to complete their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or disabled students in a 504 Plan. Otherwise, it’s back to pencil-and-paper for lessons and tests that the grandparents of today’s students remember.
House Majority Leader Chris Croft hailed his colleagues’ action:
“This bill helps put education back at the center of the classroom. Constant cellphone use has become a major distraction for students and a challenge for teachers trying to keep kids focused.
“By establishing clear expectations around phone use during the school day, we can reduce unnecessary distractions, improve student engagement, reduce anxiety around social media, and give educators the environment they need to do what they do best. In Kansas classrooms, learning comes first.”
House Speaker Dan Hawkins noted Kansas will now join a majority of states removing digital devices from classrooms:
“Last summer, I had the chance to hear Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, speak about the impact smartphones and online overexposure are having on kids. Two things were very clear: cellphones in schools are creating real barriers to learning and worsening mental health issues, and states across the country are already taking action, while Kansas has been lagging behind.”
Hawkins added: “Today’s vote is a major step in the right direction. A ‘bell-to-bell, no cell’ policy helps ensure classrooms are places for learning and interaction, not distractions. It’s about helping students stay focused on instruction, their classmates, and the work in front of them.”
