Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed Senate Substitute for Substitute for House Bill 2299, banning the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the school day. The Governor signed the bill at the Kansas Statehouse Thursday alongside a bipartisan group of legislators and advocates.
“In our rapidly changing world, technology dominates our lives, and that’s why it’s essential that we reduce distractions in the classroom,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We must have one uniform standard across the state to tackle this issue and set our students up for success. By banning cell phone use during the school day, we’re taking a commonsense approach to address the impact smartphones and social media have on Kansas children’s academic performance, learning environments, and mental health.”
The bill requires Kansas public schools and accredited private schools to prohibit the use of personal electronic devices during the school day on school premises. These devices include, but are not limited to, cell phones, tablets, computers, watches, wireless headphones or earbuds, text messaging devices, and personal digital assistants. Students’ personal devices must be turned off and securely stored during the school day.
The bill also includes exceptions if a device is needed for the implementation of a student’s individualized education program or 504 plan, or if approved by a physician as a medical necessity. Students may still contact a parent or guardian via school phone. The bill does not apply to technology that is issued to students by school districts.
The bill also prohibits employees of school districts from using social media to communicate with students for official school purposes, or from requiring the use of social media for any assignment or extracurricular activity.
