A new bill would ban student cell phones and other electronic devices in Tennessee classrooms.
The bill, introduced by Republican Representative Rebecca Alexander, of Jonesborough, and Republican Senator Jon Lundberg, of Bristol, “requires LEAs and public charter schools to prohibit students from displaying, using, or accessing an electronic device during instructional time unless the electronic device is authorized, or provided to the student, by the LEA or public charter school for instructional purposes; requires local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to develop and adopt a policy to implement the prohibition.”
The bill has already passed on two considerations in the Senate and has been recommended for passing by the K-12 Subcommittee to the Education Administration.
Many parents are confused by the bill and say it is not necessary because school systems across Tennessee already have cell phone and electronic device policies that restrict their use. While some school systems actually collect phones during class time, others just have students put their phones away.
It’s the “access” part of the bill that has angered parents in Tennessee who say they want their children to be able to access their phones in case of emergency.