North Dakota to ban cell phones during on-site school day

North Dakota has joined the growing list of states keeping cell phones away from students during school hours.

“This is a game changer for our public schools, giving students the freedom to focus on learning and to interact with teachers and friends without the constant tug of their cell phones and addictive social media,” Gov. Kelly Armstrong said in a statement. 

Armstrong signed House Bill 1160 Friday although the law will not go into effect until Aug. 1, according to the North Dakota Monitor. 

Under the legislation, all districts must silence and store “bluetooth-enabled devices, tablets, smartwatches or other wearable devices and gaming devices …  in a lockable pouch, phone locker or other inaccessible locations” during the school day, or “bell to bell,” Michael Achterling writes. 

“The law allows students to use their phones while privately traveling to an off-site educational location, such as a career and technology center. It also allows school districts to craft their own cellphone-use policy during school-related noninstructional time, such as bus rides, field trips, sporting events and school dances.” 

However, lawmakers have made exemptions for students who need electronic monitoring devices for medical purposes or enroll in individualized education programs (IEPs), the Monitor notes. 

‘The gift of attention, connection, presence’ 

State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler applauded the measure, which she hopes will help address “overwhelming” student mental health challenges. 

“This law gives students the gift of attention, connection, and presence,” she said in a statement. “We are removing the constant pull of comparison and distraction and replacing it with space to learn and grow.” 

Florida led the charge last year in requiring public schools to ban cell phones during class time. 

Other states have taken similar measures, with Pennsylvania providing $100,000 in grants for participating districts to store cell phones in locking bags. 

“Kids spend so much time on social media and using their smartphones that it’s taking a toll on them mentally, emotionally, and academically,” said Ryan Aument, a Pennsylvania state senator who sponsored the program. “Smartphone restrictions have proved successful in reversing these trends. Students deserve to learn without a constant distraction in their pockets.” 

As previously reported by The Lion, state governors as well as legislators have been involved in initiating the bans. 

For example, Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin urged restricting or removing cell phones from classrooms in a July executive order. 

“This essential action will promote a healthier and more focused educational environment where every child is free to learn,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Republican New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte announced her intent to ban such devices her inaugural address. 

“Screens are negatively impacting our learning environments, drawing students’ attention away from their classes, and becoming a barrier for teachers to do their jobs,” she said. 

“We have done struggling students a disservice by passing them along when they don’t grasp the material at hand. This problem only snowballs the longer it goes on. We can’t allow our standards to slide because the student is the one who pays the price for our unwillingness to have tough conversations about whether they are truly prepared for the next step.”