Education panel considers cell phone policy to keep students on track — and offline

Maple Grove Middle School Principal Patrick Smith is among educators who believe cell phones are a distraction to learning in their schools.

“Any issues we had with conflict, whether it was physical or verbal … we found to be 100% due to cell phones. It just created a very toxic culture,” he told the House Education Policy Committee Tuesday.

Smith testified in support of HF4581, a that bill would request the Minnesota School Boards Association to develop a model policy on students’ possession and use of cell phones in school by Dec. 15, 2024. It would also require school boards to adopt a policy — not necessarily the created model policy — on students’ possession and use of cell phones in school by March 15, 2025.

The bill was held over for future consideration.

“The more we understand about cell phones in schools, the more it is clear that we need to be proactive, collaborative and thoughtful in how and when their use is permitted,” said Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL-New Brighton), the bill sponsor.

Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) said research has found reduction of cell phone use positively impacts students, but only if the policy is schoolwide.

“Otherwise, there’s good teachers who let you have your phone, and they’re the cool teachers,” Robbins said. “And then there’s other teachers who are the mean, awful teachers who don’t let you have your phone. … So it has to be a building-wide decision to be effective.”

Maple Grove Middle School has a no cell phone use policy for students during the school day.

“We instantly noticed that it was a game changer,” Smith said. “The culture and climate of our building, our students were happy, they weren’t looking at their phones during the hallway or at lunchtime. They were talking to each other.”

St. Anthony Middle School has an “off and out of sight” cell phone policy that every staff member also follows.

“We know research suggests the further the distance from the students to their phone, the better the chance of learning is,” said Principal Amy Kujawski.

Rep. Peggy Bennett (R-Albert Lea) is concerned the school board policy adoption requirement would add another mandate to Minnesota schools. “We have inundated them with mandates, and they need a chance to catch their collective breaths.”