Bill to limit cell phones in classrooms statewide passes House vote

Stock photo of student taking a selfie in a classroom (Photo by RDNE Stock Project/Pexels)

The Tennessee House of Representatives passed legislation Monday that would prohibit students from using cell phones in the classroom.

The House voted Monday afternoon in favor of the measure, sponsored by Representative Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough. The bill requires local boards of education and public charter schools to adopt a policy prohibiting students from using any wireless communication devices during instructional time, with some exceptions. Teachers could allow devices for educational purposes, and students could use them in the event of an emergency. Students with special needs or those who use them for medical conditions such as glucose monitoring, would also be permitted to use their phones. The bill also requires schools to develop a process for notifying parents or guardians in the event of an emergency at the school. Individual districts would have the ability to extend the ban on cell phone use to the entire school day and would also determine how students would be able to store their phones.

That prompted Representative John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, to express concern about children not having physical access to their phones in the event of a shooting or other emergency at school.

State Representative Rebecca Alexander (Photo by the Tennessee General Assembly)

“So just to clarify, when there is a lockdown at my child’s school or some other instance of that nature, you’re telling me that if I text my child, he can’t respond or he can’t text me to let me know that’s he’s okay and in a safe place?” asked Representative Clemmons.

“Each school district can decide how they want to handle that. That’ll be totally up to the LEAs (local education agencies) and the school districts,” responded Representative Alexander.

Representative Ron Gant, R-Piperton, wanted to know if there would be consequences for any districts that refused to implement a policy regulating cell phones in the classroom.

“What happens if the LEA completely ignores this?” asked Representative Gant. “There is no recourse for the (Tennessee) Department of Education that’s in this language that’s going to affect that school district if they do not pass some kind of policy.”

Representative Alexander pointed to multiple studies and local data which demonstrate the negative impact cell phones can have on student performance and mental health.

“All the information that we have been given in the past year, has led us to the assumption that every school district should want to do this type of policy if they want what’s best for their students,” said Representative Alexander, who went on to say a refusal to implement the policy would go before the State Board of Education. “They would have to answer to the Board of Education and I’m not sure what the recourse would be for that.”

The bill also gained bi-partisan support, with members from both sides of the aisle speaking in favor of the measure.

“As a parent, as someone who has spoken to teachers and counselors in my community who have seen the benefit of our county having a policy like this and what it’s done to improve educational outcomes and just general welfare of students’ mental health, I really appreciate it,” said Representative Caleb Hemmer, D-Nashville.

“I have heard from many folks on both sides of this issue, both parents, teachers, and administrators alike. In my district we have learned of issues that potentially would not have been brought to our attention if a student didn’t have a cell phone,” said Representative Michele Reneau, R-Signal Mountain. “But I do support this decision for policy on cell phones at the school board level, keeping it as local as possible to the people.”

The bill passed in an 80 to 10 vote. The Senate version passed out of the Education Subcommittee last week and will now go up for a vote in the full chamber.