Student Cell Phone Bill Passes First Hurdle

A bill that would ban cell phone use by students while in school passed a major hurdle last week. The bill would allow school systems to pass policies regulating cell phone usage by students while in class. This includes allowing schools to take the students’ cell phone as they come into the school building. Students would then get their phone back at the end of the school day. Education officials say that having a student using a a cell phone in class is a major distraction in the classroom.

The bill does have exceptions for those students with medical conditions that requires them to have a cell phone to monitor their health issue. There is also a process included to where parents or guardians would be notified in case of an emergency. Last week, the bill passed though a house subcommittee with bipartisan support. The bill now heads to both the House and Senate Education Committees this week.