Erin Murphy, Journal Des Moines Bureau
DES MOINES -- Iowa K-12 students would be barred from having their cellphones in the classroom under a proposal that Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to present to state lawmakers.
Reynolds mentioned her proposal Thursday during an interview with the Gray TV stations' Washington, D.C. bureau.
"Gov. Reynolds believes Iowa students deserve the opportunity to learn free from the distraction of personal electronic devices. Iowa kids should have the freedom to focus and be fully engaged in their education," Reynolds' spokesman, Mason Mauro, said in an email Friday night.
Proponents of such bans say they prevent students from being distracted during school instruction time and also help address concerns about students' mental health.
The Sioux City Community School District has had a policy restricting cell phone use since the 2022-23 school year. The policy was put in place after the district reviewed a district behavior survey, in which cell phones were determined to be a distractor.
People are also reading... Updated: Large fight at West High School results in several arrests Monday West Lyon wallops Spirit Lake to win all-Northwest Iowa Class 2A state championship Attorney: Judge grants injunction to halt suspension of Sioux City pharmacy's license Sioux City's Nickless, other Iowa bishops pen letter to migrants Class 2A state championship preview: West Lyon, Spirit Lake's explosive offenses clash in title game Sioux City Council approves $40,000 lawsuit settlement Karlee Faith Hughes Sioux City man accused of stealing police officer's Jeep, leading pursuit First From The Journal: Argonaut Apartments demolished in Sioux City Sioux City Associate Superintendent Angela Bemus not interested in head position Body found in burning pickup near Brunsville Marriage licenses for Woodbury County for Nov. 18, 2024 Repeal of car dealership moratorium moves forward Students involved in West High fight facing disciplinary action from district Turkey day fixings, an Autumnal menu and a return to M+A's gastropub roots
The policy differs for elementary, middle and high school students. At the elementary level, students are not allowed any kind of mobile phone, smartwatch or headphones during the school day. At the middle school level, students are not allowed the same devices during the day. If they have good behavior, the school principal can decide to allow the devices during non-instructional time.
At the high school level, students are allowed to use their devices during non-instructional time, such as passing periods, lunch and before or after school.
While students shared their displeasure with the policy, district administration shared they received numerous positive comments from parents and teachers regarding the policy, stating it was improving behavior in the classrooms.
Eight states had banned cellphones in classrooms as of Nov. 4, according to KFF, a nonprofit health care news and advocacy organization. The states with statewide bans on phones in the classroom are Minnesota, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, South Carolina, Louisiana and California, according to KFF.
Another 12 states -- including Iowa -- have introduced legislation that would ban or restrict cellphone use in classrooms, and education departments in nine more states have recommended policies or pilot programs designed to ban or restrict cellphones in schools, according to KFF.
It is unclear whether state lawmakers would support a ban on cellphones in the classroom, even with Reynolds' fellow Republicans holding majorities in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature.
State Sen. Ken Rozenboom, a Republican from Pella who chairs the Senate's Education Committee, said he has not considered introducing a ban on cellphones in classrooms, nor has anyone contacted him about the issue.
"I believe cellphone usage is a very significant problem in our schools, but I'm not convinced that this is something that should be governed by the state," Rozenboom said.
A spokeswoman for Iowa House Republicans pointed to legislation considered in that chamber during the 2024 session that would have required school districts to adopt a policy that restricts the use of cellphones during classroom instruction, but did not ban phones from the classroom. That bill did not advance far enough to be passed into law.
Melissa Saitz, the spokeswoman for Iowa House Republicans, said she believes the topic will come up during the 2025 legislative session, and that House Republicans will be seeking feedback from Iowans on the topic.
She said it is too early to say whether House Republicans will support a full ban on phones in the classroom, but it will "definitely be a discussion" during the session.
"We have heard from so many teachers that cellphones are a huge distraction preventing kids from learning," Saitz said.
A spokeswoman for the Iowa State Education Association, the statewide union that represents public schoolteachers, said the union will not comment at this time since there is not yet a "specific proposal."
The 2025 session of the Iowa Legislature begins Jan. 13. Gov. Kim Reynolds likely will give her annual Condition of the State address on Jan. 14.
0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.