During her State of the State address back in January, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly called for lawmakers to pass limits on cell phone use in schools. Lawmakers have complied.
Both the Kansas House and Senate of passed Senate Substitute for Substitute House Bill 2299, thus requiring school districts and “accredited nonpublic schools” to restrict student use of cell phones from the opening to closing bell.
60th District Representative Mark Schreiber had concerns about including private schools in the policy as the conversation unfolded.
Schreiber says cell phone usage in schools has increased noticeably just in the past five years. He sees a correlation between cell phone use and learning success.
Like a separate discussion on property tax policy, there is a concern about local control.
How this impacts school districts that already have cell phone restrictions as part of their policies remains to be determined.
