OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – Legislation that bans students from using cell phones while in school cleared the legislature and is on Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk for final approval.
The House of Representatives gave final legislative approval to Senate Bill 139 on Tuesday with a 51-39 vote.
Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, and Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, wrote SB 139. The bill restricts cell phones in classrooms from first school bell to the final bell.
“Cell phones are the biggest disruptions in classrooms. With this bill, we are giving teachers the authority and support they need to keep students focused and engaged from bell to bell,” Seifried said.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt delivered his State of the State address in February, calling for educational reforms, including eliminating virtual days and prohibiting cell phones in classrooms.
He described cell phones as a distraction to in-class education experience, saying they should be prohibited in classrooms.
He praised Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Rob Miller for implementing a cell phone free classroom policy after noticing a decline in academic performance among his students. Miller has since seen a drastic improvement in student performances.
Stitt called upon other schools to follow suit.
“I want to challenge the legislature and school districts across the state to consider ways to make cell phone free schools a reality for all students,” Stitt said.
In September, Stitt issued the Oklahoma Phone-Free Schools Challenge, calling upon students, teachers and superintendents to submit solutions for managing cell phone use in schools.
The purpose of the challenge – issued as Executive Order 2024-26 – is to address problems associated with in-school cell phone usage, including distractions from classwork, bullying and learning difficulties.
“Cell phones are useful tools, but far too often, they cause distractions in the classroom. I know we can’t solve a problem like this with a top-down, heavy-handed government mandate,” Stitt said. “I know our students and teachers have the creative and innovative minds to solve this problem in their classroom, so I want to empower them to do just that. That’s why we’re launching the Oklahoma Phone-Free School Challenge.”
The challenge began on Wednesday with Stitt giving students, teachers and administrators until Nov. 29 to submit their ideas, policies, and best practices for cell phone use in schools to the Governor’s Office.
A Pew Research Center survey found that 72 percent of high school teachers in the United States said that cell phone distraction is a major problem in classrooms.
The survey also notes that 33 percent of middle school teachers and 6 percent of elementary school teachers said that cell phone distraction is a significant problem among students.
Numerous school districts throughout the nation implemented cell phone policies, including requiring students to turn off their phones during class or leaving them with administrators during the school day.
Eighty-two percent of K-12 teachers say their school district has a cell phone policy. However, 30 percent of those teachers say cellphone polices are either very or somewhat difficult to enforce.
