Minnesota lawmakers push ban on cellphones in classrooms statewide
A new state law takes effect next month requiring all Minnesota school districts to have a policy adopted in efforts to crack down on students' cellphone use during the school day.
As the mandate's March 15 deadline approaches, some Minnesota lawmakers are already proposing changes that would ban cellphones in all classrooms, and most schools entirely, beginning next year.
Senators Alice Mann (DFL-Edina), Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls), Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-Eden Prairie) and John Marty (DFL-Roseville) have authored the latest proposal, S.F. 508, which would amend Minnesota's law to add the following provision:
"Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the school district or charter school's school cell phone policy must prohibit cell phones and smart watches in school for students in grades kindergarten through 8 and prohibit cell phones and smart watches in classrooms for students in grades 9 through 12. The policy must provide exceptions for devices necessary for medical use, exceptions for devices included in an individualized education program for a student with a disability, or other exceptions at the discretion of the school principal."
The current state law requires districts to adopt a cellphone policy, but it allows for local school boards to decide what the policy directs.
Many districts rolled out their new policy on the first day of school back in September.
The rules now in play across the state range from requiring phones to be turned off and put away to requiring student phones be locked in a Yondr pouch for the entirety of the school day, according to reporting by MPR News.
Speaking during a Committee on Education Policy committee meeting on Monday, Mann said phones in classrooms are taking a serious toll on students' ability to focus on their overall mental health.
Mann she said heard of instances of students taking pictures of tests, taking pictures of classmates without consent and sending nude photos of classmates in group chats.
"In one district, when we asked if kids had ever seen a naked picture of a random classmate, the majority of the kids that were at the round table shrugged and said "yeah" - like it was no big deal, as our jaws hit the floor," Mann said.
Mann said district leaders also report cell phones are driving an increase in conflict between students, conflict between teachers and students and cyber bullying.
According to Mann, districts with cell phone bans report an improved culture, more social interaction among students and other benefits.
State cell phone bans in schools are in effect in states such as Florida, Louisiana, Indiana, Virginia and South Carolina, as some other states are currently piloting bans.
A informal survey conducted at the Minnesota State Fair last year found most fair-goers supported cell phone bans for K-12 students.
The 2024 House of Representatives' State Fair Poll asked fair-goers how they felt about prohibiting K-12 students from using cell phones during the school day.
The poll found two-thirds of respondents, or 68.6%, were in favor of such a ban, while about 21% opposed the policy and roughly 11% were undecided.
The proposal in the Senate does not currently have a companion bill in the Minnesota House.
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