• Bipartisan support for school cellphone bans is rising across multiple U.S. states.
• Concerns about children's mental health and classroom distraction have driven this trend.
• States like Florida and California have enacted or are considering cellphone restrictions in schools.
• Opposition includes parents worried about communication during emergencies.
• Advocates emphasize the need for students to have a break from phones during the school day.

Little Rock, Ark. — In a surprising display of bipartisan unity, both Arkansas’ Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom are advocating for restrictions on students’ cellphone use during school hours. This movement, which has gained traction in recent years, is driven primarily by a growing concern over the impacts of excessive screen time on children's mental health and the disruptive nature of phones in the classroom. According to reports, at least eight states—California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia—have implemented or are exploring measures to limit cellphone access in educational settings. Furthermore, proposals for similar bans are surfacing in additional states, as lawmakers from various political spectrums address the issue.

Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, has echoed these concerns, advocating for mandatory phone-free periods in schools to mitigate the adverse effects of social media on young people. The National Center for Education Statistics indicates that about 77% of schools in the U.S. officially ban the use of cellphones for non-academic purposes, but these policies are not universally enforced, suggesting that many students still access their devices throughout the school day.

Kim Whitman, co-founder of the Phone Free Schools Movement, highlighted the ubiquitous nature of this challenge, stating, "It doesn’t matter if you live in a big city or a rural town, urban or suburban, all children are struggling and need that seven-hour break from the pressures of phones and social media during the school day."

Each state's approach varies significantly. For instance, Florida pioneered a comprehensive law in 2023 that mandates public schools prohibit cellphone use during class and restrict access to social media on district Wi-Fi. California's upcoming legislation requires that the state's nearly 1,000 school districts formulate their own cellphone policies by mid-2026. In contrast, states like Arkansas are piloting programs encouraging schools to go phone-free, including a $20 million grant proposal announced by Governor Sanders aimed at supporting schools that adopt these measures.

However, the initiative is not without its detractors. Many parents have expressed concern that such bans may prevent them from communicating urgently with their children, particularly in the wake of tragic school shootings where cellphones allowed students to connect with loved ones during crises. Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, remarked, “Banning the devices during the school day is not going to solve underlying issues like bullying or the dangers of social media.” Advocates for maintaining cellphone access during school stress the need for better digital literacy and guidance for children rather than outright bans.

As the conversation evolves, education officials must weigh the complexities of embracing digital wellness against the imperative of keeping students safe and focused in their learning environments. The growing push for cellphone restrictions, as evidenced by recent statewide measures and calls to action from state leaders, reflects a significant ongoing dialogue about the role of technology in education.