School cellphone ban proposed

Nebraska school boards would be required to adopt policies regarding student use of cellphones under a proposal considered Feb. 4 by the Education Committee.

Under LB140, introduced by Bellevue Sen. Rita Sanders at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen, school boards would be required to adopt a policy before the 2025-26 school year prohibiting student use of cellphones while on school property or attending school functions. These policies may also include discipline and enforcement mechanisms.

Students could use cellphones on school grounds or at school functions when:
● required by a student’s individualized education program and 504 plan;
● authorized by a teacher for education purposes during instructional time;
● in case of emergency or perceived threat of danger;
● necessary to manage a student’s health care; and
● determined appropriate by the school board or otherwise allowed by an appropriate school employee.

Sanders said recent studies show a clear correlation between increased phone usage and lower academic performance, including test scores.

“I firmly believe that every student deserves the best possible chance to succeed, and part of that is eliminating unnecessary distractions,” she said. “By limiting electronic communication devices in the classroom, we can foster an environment that promotes focus and academic achievement.”

Pillen testified in support of the bill, citing research that shows young people receive, on average, nearly 200 electronic notifications a day. The constant barrage of content and notifications is affecting students’ academic performance and their mental health, he said.

“The more we can keep [cellphones] out of classrooms, keep them out of our schools and keep our kids free of them, the better,” Pillen said.

Speaking on behalf of the Nebraska State Education Association, Tim Royers also supported the proposal, but urged lawmakers to consider limiting allowable exceptions.

In a recent survey of its members, Royers said NSEA has heard concerns from many educators about cellphone use and the inconsistent enforcement of related policies. While some teachers actively enforce cellphone policies at their schools, he said, others do not, leaving some teachers feeling like the “bad guy.”

Tyler Mosher, an Elkhorn South High School senior, testified in support of LB140. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises limiting phone use to 2 hours a day, she said, yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that teenagers average 4 hours daily on their cellphones.

Mosher said most of her friends, however, spend an average of 5.5 to 6 hours daily on their phones.

“Obviously, we are two to three times [over] the amount that we should be,” Mosher said.

Colby Coash testified in opposition to LB140 on behalf of the Nebraska Association of School Boards, raising concern over the bill’s language regarding cellphone use at school functions. School boards could craft policies prohibiting cellphones at school functions, but it would be challenging to enforce, he said.

Ultimately, Coash said, school boards would prefer to maintain the flexibility of choosing a cellphone policy that best suits their district.

The committee took no immediate action on the proposal.