Colorado AG and lawmakers target cellphones in school
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Colorado students will soon face restrictions on the use of cellphones and smart devices in K-12 public schools under a new bipartisan bill at the state Capitol.
Why it matters: The legislation seeks to end a confusing patchwork of policies, often set by individual schools or teachers in Colorado, and improve the students' mental health and learning environment.
The big picture: Two-thirds of the largest public school districts in the state don't have policies governing cellphones in classrooms.
- In Denver, schools set their own policies, but more administrators are moving to a strict ban.
What they're saying: "Despite our best efforts to encourage responsible use … many continue to use their phones during class time and instruction, causing significant disruptions to the learning environment," Lincoln High School principal Néstor Bravo told parents this month as he enacted tougher rules to ban cellphones in classrooms.
What's next: The legislation would require districts to adopt a policy that limits usage but offers flexibility to set their own rules.
- Attorney General Phil Weiser supports a plan that prohibits phones in classrooms. "Stated simply, the kids are not all right," he said at an event announcing the legislation, referring to the ongoing youth mental health crisis. "The widespread adoption of smartphones is one of the main causes of why young people are suffering."
The bottom line: The bill has Democratic and Republican sponsors in each chamber, all but ensuring its passage later this session.