Utah eyes restricting cellphone use in classrooms
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The Utah Legislature plans to introduce a bill next year to limit cellphone use in classrooms, after more than half of U.S. states have taken steps to ban or restrict the devices in K-12 schools, a new analysis finds.
Why it matters: Some students admit that their phones can be hugely disruptive during class, and cyberbullying is a persistent issue — but many parents see phones as critical safety tools in the event of a shooting or other emergency.
The big picture: Eight states, including Florida, Louisiana and Virginia, have already banned or restricted school cellphone use, per a recent KFF analysis.
- State education departments have issued policy proposals or launched pilot programs in another six states.
- Legislation restricting or banning cellphone use in schools has been introduced in 14 others.
Zoom in: Utah's GOP state lawmakers in August announced their intention to introduce legislation that would bar students from using their cellphones and smartwatches during school hours — unless a school district decided to permit their use.
- A similar bill that sought to ban cellphone use in schools, sponsored by state Rep. Trevor Lee (R-Layton), failed to pass a legislative education committee in 2023.
- Since then, the appetite to regulate cellphone use in schools has increased, Lee told Axios
- "Teachers want it. Kids want it. It's controversial on the right and left," Lee said of device restrictions. "Each side has their concerns."
Caveat: Some states that KFF categorized as having a statewide ban or restriction, such as Minnesota, have told school districts to come up with their own policies but have not said what those policies should be.
How it works: In some schools, students are expected to put their devices in a secure pouch they can unlock when leaving for the day or in case of emergency.
Between the lines: Many school districts are getting out ahead of their state education departments, issuing their own rules around cellphone use and access that aren't captured in the map above.
What's next: The jury's still out on whether bans actually make life better for students.
- "Emerging research on student outcomes is mixed, with some studies suggesting improvements in student mental health and academic performance and a reduction in bullying, and others showing little to no change," per KFF.