ATLANTA – Across the United States, an increasing number of states are enacting laws to either limit or entirely ban the use of cellphones in schools, gaining broad bipartisan approval in legislative halls.
On Tuesday, the Georgia Senate voted overwhelmingly, 54-2, to approve a bill that prohibits students from kindergarten through eighth grade from using cellphones or any personal electronic devices during school hours. This bill now awaits potential approval or veto by the state’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp.
Currently, nine states have enacted school phone bans, and that number is poised to grow. Bills promoting similar restrictions have been passed with significant legislative support in New Mexico, Tennessee, and Utah, and are now pending their governors’ signatures. Additional measures are advancing swiftly in several other states.
The movement toward these bans is largely driven by mounting concerns over how screen time negatively affects children’s mental health, coupled with ongoing complaints from educators who encounter persistent distractions caused by cellphones in the classroom.
“This legislation addresses more than just academics; it focuses on the well-being of students,” explained Republican Georgia state Senator Jason Anavitarte of Dallas during the debate over House Bill 340. “Research increasingly shows that excessive phone use is linked to mental health issues, diminished social skills, and higher rates of bullying. Our goal is to foster student engagement in school, encourage socializing during lunch periods, and enhance focus in classrooms.”
National data from the National Center for Education Statistics reveals that 77% of U.S. schools claim to ban cellphones for noneducational purposes. However, this statistic can be misleading, as it doesn’t necessarily reflect student compliance or consistent enforcement of these policies.
States like Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia have all instituted various measures to restrict or ban cellphone use among students in school settings.
The specifics of these laws differ greatly from state to state. Georgia’s recent bill stipulates that students must not use their personal devices during the school day, leaving the enforcement up to individual local school districts. While some districts have implemented locking pouches, others may direct students to store their phones in lockers, surrender them to teachers, or disable them through an online application. Importantly, students who require devices for medical monitoring or to assist with intellectual disabilities are still permitted to use them.
In contrast, other states maintain allowances for device usage under specific conditions. For instance, Utah’s bill enables schools to permit in-class device use under local policies.
While Georgia’s legislation does not provide additional funding, supporters have suggested that school safety grants might be applicable for districts opting to purchase pouches or similar equipment. Meanwhile, New Mexico’s bill allocates $10 million to support local schools in implementing these new restrictions.
Critics of the proposal often highlight concerns that students may not be able to quickly communicate with parents during emergencies. The significance of phone access was made salient during a tragic school shooting in September at Apalachee High School near Atlanta, where students used phones to contact parents and emergency responders.
Senator Rashaun Kemp, an Atlanta Democrat, expressed support for the bill but urged legislative colleagues to focus more on gun control to combat school shootings. “What if a phone could save lives amidst an active shooter incident?” Kemp queried. “As a parent, these are real worries we ponder. A phone might be the last means for my child to communicate with me.”
Supporters, however, caution that student phones could inadvertently pose additional risks during emergencies by distracting students or disclosing their locations during an active shooter situation. Republican Senator Randy Robertson of Cataula emphasized that parents should “trust the school to execute its emergency action plan, even if their children’s phones are secured and unavailable.”
For some proponents, the current legislation doesn’t go far enough—there are calls to broaden the ban to include high school students. Republican Representative Scott Hilton of Peachtree Corners, who sponsored the bill, suggested such expansions might be pursued in future legislative sessions.
“This bill is a positive move forward, but let us consider it a beginning, not an endpoint,” urged Democratic Senator Jason Esteves of Atlanta. “We should strive for every student, from kindergarten through 12th grade, to experience a learning environment free from needless distractions.”