State Lawmakers Push for Ban on Phones in Schools

Lawmakers across the country are debating whether to ban cell phones in class or all together. But parent advocates say students need to have access to their phones in emergencies.

In Minnesota, lawmakers passed an education bill that includes a requirement that school districts create a phone policy. The Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association and the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals "must collaborate to make the best practices available to schools on a range of different strategies in order to minimize the impact of cell phones on student behavior, mental health and academic attainment." The guidance was a part of an education policy bill.

Two Rivers High School in Mendota Heights, Minnesota is ahead of the curve. The school started working with non-profit LiveMore ScreenLess in 2022. They held focus groups with students and teachers and engaged with parents and school leadership. After these conversations, the school implemented their new phone policy. Students can use their phones during lunch but must have them off during class or it will be confiscated.