Bill would help curb student smartphone use during class

A bill introduced Wednesday in the North Carolina Senate aims to empower local school districts to restrict the use of smartphones and similar devices during instructional time in public schools.

Senate Bill 55 — sponsored by Republican Sens. Michael Lee of New Hanover County, Jim Burgin of Harnett County, and Lisa Barnes of Nash County — encourages school boards and charter schools to develop and enforce policies that limit distracting technologies in classrooms.

The bill requires that, at a minimum, schools should prohibit students from using, displaying, or having powered-on wireless communication devices during instructional hours. This includes cell phones, laptops, and tablets, pagers, two-way radios, and gaming devices. Schools will have the flexibility to decide specific violations and implement consequences such as confiscating devices or instituting disciplinary actions.

SB 55 provides several exceptions: Teachers could authorize the use of devices for educational purposes, and exemptions may also apply for medical reasons or special-education plans.

Under the measure, schools would need to define consequences for infractions, which may include confiscation of devices or other disciplinary actions.

“It’s time local school boards take the lead in eliminating distracting technologies from the classroom,” said Dr. Robert Luebke, director of the Center for Effective Education. “The inability to properly limit technology has had dire academic and social consequences for our children. Every school board should think through such a policy and adopt it for their schools. Parents and students will thank them for doing so.”

The proposed legislation comes amidst growing concerns about the impact of phone use on student learning and well-being. Research has pointed to devices as a major classroom distraction and a possible driver of social media addiction. At least 19 states have enacted similar statewide measures or guidelines, while others recommend local school districts create their own policies.

As of mid-2024, at least 19 states in the U.S. have implemented laws or policies that ban or restrict cell phone use in classrooms, with some requiring local districts to enforce their own rules. Other states are considering similar measures in their legislative sessions this year.

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