FRANKFORT – A recent study found 97% of students use their cell phones during school hours, with a median use time of 43 minutes.
State Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, thinks he has a fix for that. He wants the Kentucky legislature to pass a bill that would ban cell phone use during class.
House Bill 383, which was advanced by the House Education Committee on Tuesday morning, would mandate that school boards adopt policies that prohibit cell phone use “during instructional time” except during emergencies, if directed by a teacher for instructional purposes, or if cell phones are part of a student’s individual education plan.
State law already mandates that school boards develop policies regarding student cell phone use on school property. Bray’s bill goes further by stating that the phones cannot be used during classroom times.
The point is to give teachers and administrators additional support for cracking down on cell phone use in the classroom, Bray said.
The bill does not include specific provisions for how to handle students who disobey the policy. Those decisions should be made at the local level under districts’ disciplinary policies, Bray said.