A total of 14 states in US have active laws or executive orders that ban or restrict the usage of cell phones in schools
Starting on September 1, a new law in Texas will ban students from using cellphones and other personal communication devices during school hours. Governor Greg Abott has signed a new law that requires all cellphones and other personal communication devices like smart watches to be in a secure, out-of-sight storage area during the school day, reports Fox News.
With the new law, Texas has become the first US state to impose a statewide mandatory ban on student cellphone use in public and charter schools, affecting more than 5 million students.
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Schools must either ban devices entirely from school grounds or require students to secure them in lockers, backpacks, or magnetically locked pouches. Devices such as cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, radio devices, paging devices, or any other electronic devices "capable of telecommunication or digital communication" have been included in the list, barring the devices provided by the school. Districts have 90 days from the law’s effect to adopt and enforce policies.
Exceptions are also in place for devices needed for an education program. If a student has a doctor's role or if it is necessary to comply with health or safety requirements or the school's safety protocols.
“The passage of HB 1481 marks an important step toward restoring focus and connection in our classrooms,” State Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo shared in a statement on Monday.
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“By creating a phone-free environment, we’re giving teachers the tools to teach without disruption and students the space to learn, think critically, and engage with one another face-to-face," Fairly said.
"This bill puts education, not screen time, at the centre of the school day. I anticipate not only seeing major jumps in GPA’s and test scores, but improvements in mental health and social wellbeing as well," Fairly added.
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A total of 14 states in US have active laws or executive orders that ban or restrict the usage of cell phones in schools:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
New York
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Utah
Virginia
West Virginia
Other states, including California, Oregon, and Washington have guidelines in place for school districts about limiting the use of phones by students during education hours. Other states such as Pennsylvania, Delaware and Arkansas have not issued a similar order but are actively encouraging school districts through funding mechanisms to adopt policies that result less phone usage.
Arkansas, however, may be implementing a more thorough ban soon. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders earlier this year announced a bill that would ban smartphones and other personal electronic devices like smart watches from every single public school in the state, citing "unrestricted access to smartphones and social media" as a cause of worsening mental health in young people.
With the new law, Texas has become the first US state to impose a statewide mandatory ban on student cellphone use in public and charter schools, affecting more than 5 million students.
ALSO READ: 'Didn't expect this much...': Squid Games Season 3 'heart wrenching' plot twist leaves fans devastated
Texas bans cellphones in schools
The governor signed the House Bill 1481 into law over the weekend which states that all school districts must prohibit the use of personal communication devices during school hours in Texas. Under the new law, the school must either prohibit students from bringing devices on campus or provide a way for the student to store the device while on school property. The law also requires schools to give punishments for students who are found using the devices in schools.Schools must either ban devices entirely from school grounds or require students to secure them in lockers, backpacks, or magnetically locked pouches. Devices such as cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, radio devices, paging devices, or any other electronic devices "capable of telecommunication or digital communication" have been included in the list, barring the devices provided by the school. Districts have 90 days from the law’s effect to adopt and enforce policies.
Exceptions are also in place for devices needed for an education program. If a student has a doctor's role or if it is necessary to comply with health or safety requirements or the school's safety protocols.
“The passage of HB 1481 marks an important step toward restoring focus and connection in our classrooms,” State Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo shared in a statement on Monday.
ALSO READ: Indian-origin Zohran Mamdani faces shocking threat to US citizenship: Can Trump really deport him?
“By creating a phone-free environment, we’re giving teachers the tools to teach without disruption and students the space to learn, think critically, and engage with one another face-to-face," Fairly said.
"This bill puts education, not screen time, at the centre of the school day. I anticipate not only seeing major jumps in GPA’s and test scores, but improvements in mental health and social wellbeing as well," Fairly added.
Which US states have banned phones in schools?
Apart from Texas, Virginia has also joined the list, with Governor Glenn Youngkin signing a bill that requires "bell-to-bell" cell phone-free classrooms across Virginia's public K–12 schools. It joins 13 other states that have statewide bans or restrictions on phone usage throughout the school day, reports Newsweek.ALSO READ: Zohran Mamdani to be stripped of US citizenship? Shocking twist as New York’s mayoral race heats up
A total of 14 states in US have active laws or executive orders that ban or restrict the usage of cell phones in schools:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
New York
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Utah
Virginia
West Virginia
Other states, including California, Oregon, and Washington have guidelines in place for school districts about limiting the use of phones by students during education hours. Other states such as Pennsylvania, Delaware and Arkansas have not issued a similar order but are actively encouraging school districts through funding mechanisms to adopt policies that result less phone usage.
Arkansas, however, may be implementing a more thorough ban soon. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders earlier this year announced a bill that would ban smartphones and other personal electronic devices like smart watches from every single public school in the state, citing "unrestricted access to smartphones and social media" as a cause of worsening mental health in young people.
