The iPhone was released 17 years ago on June 29, 2007, ushering in the modern smartphone era that now reaches almost every K-12 student.
But students’ use of their devices during school hours could be dramatically limited. As a growing wave of education leaders and policymakers adopt new cellphone policies, the debate is certainly tilting toward stricter restrictions. They argue that limiting access will help students’ mental health and learning.
Governors from both parties have called for a ban, and some states have already signed bills requiring schools to crack down on students' phone use during school hours. Legislation restricting student use of cell phones in schools is pending in several states.
As of June 2024, three states had passed laws or enacted policies banning or restricting student cellphone use in statewide schools, according to an Education Week analysis.
There are other measures as well. Leaders in the two largest school districts, Los Angeles and New York, are pushing for policies to ban cell phones from students during school hours next school year, and other small and medium-sized districts are taking similar steps. Earlier this year, the Alabama State Board of Education passed a resolution. School districts are strongly encouraged to limit cell phone use in schools.
Follow this tracker to see what's happening in state government.
Learn more about the debate about cell phones in K-12 schools.—Prohibitions, restrictions, classroom learning tools, etc.
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How to cite this page
Which states ban or restrict cell phone use in schools? (June 28, 2024). Education Week. Month Day, Year Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/technology/which-states-ban-or-restrict-cellphones-in-schools/2024/06