Senate Bill 53‑46 would add mobile devices to the state definition of digital citizenship, require OSPI research and two reports (initial and final), and provide best‑practice guidance; witnesses ranged from students and principals who favor bell‑to‑bell bans to parents and students expressing safety and emergency‑contact concerns.

An Alabama educator highlights successful cell phone policies improving classroom note-taking habits.

Administrators presented a draft device-free policy aligned with anticipated Illinois legislation that would restrict student use of phones and similar devices from start to finish of the school day; the board asked for further review and plans to bring it back in June for possible inclusion in the handbook.

Administrators and the board sparred over whether to ban phones at Laurel High School. Proponents said a ban would reduce bullying and classroom distraction and shift enforcement off teachers; opponents raised equity and implementation concerns. The board voted to table the high‑school handbook for revision and further review.

The policy committee presented a first-read version of a personal-electronic-device policy tied to a recent governors executive action; trustees discussed options ranging from no change to locked storage and requested further work, community messaging and administrator input.

District enforces policy restricting Internet-enabled devices to minimize classroom distractions.

School board reviews current cell phone policy amid mixed feedback from teachers and students.

Alabama governors and lawmakers restrict cell phone use to enhance student focus in schools.

New policy aims to restrict K-12 electronic device usage during classroom instructional time.