School cell phone ban bill introduced in Michigan House
was introduced last Wednesday and specifically proposes restricting students' use of anything capable of text, email, internet access, voice communication, entertainment, or navigation. These restrictions differ based on student grade level:
Students in grades K to 5 would be fully prohibited from having these devices on school grounds.
Students in grades 6 to 8 are allowed to have them on school grounds but can not use them during instructional time, breaks between instructional time, lunch, or recess.
Students in grades 9 to 12 would be banned from using them during instructional time only.
A potential school cell phone ban was considered during the previous legislative session, but nothing was ever signed into law. This time, while the bill was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, no hearing dates have been set for lawmakers to get the ball rolling.
State Rep. Mark Tisdel, one of the lawmakers who introduced the bill, says forcing students to check their devices at the classroom door will improve test scores and cut down on bullying and other mental health issues.
A major obstacle to the bill? Safety concerns. Parents are worried that if their children's schools were targeted by an active shooter, they would not be able to contact them. However, while Tisdel sympathizes with these concerns, he claims children are actually safer if their parents are not on the phone with them.
'How does that enhance your child's safety?' says Tisdel. 'You want your child's focus on the trained teacher at the head of the classroom.'
The effort failed last year, but Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is on board. Several schools in Mid-Michigan have moved to restrict cell phone usage independently of any legislation, including Lansing School District, East Lansing School District, and Williamston Community Schools.
44% of all schools have some policy in place for both middle and high school students.
2025-HIB-4141Download
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Politico
13 minutes ago
- Politico
Likely Pennsylvania gov candidate slams Shapiro over rumored presidential ambitions
Shapiro is considered a top potential presidential candidate in 2028, but has not said whether he will run for the White House. The video seemed intended to signal that Garrity would mount a more aggressive campaign against Shapiro than his past rivals. Far-right state Sen. Doug Mastriano lost to Shapiro by 15 points in 2022, after raising little money and airing few TV ads. Mastriano is considering another gubernatorial bid and remains popular with the MAGA base. 'I can tell you on the record that this may be both the first ad of 2026 and 2028,' Garrity adviser John Brabender told POLITICO. 'And that it's just a start.' The battleground state of Pennsylvania will host a gubernatorial race and as many as five competitive House races as Democrats grasp for control over the lower chamber in the midterms next year. Garrity, a combat veteran in her second term as treasurer, is seen by state GOP insiders as the best Republican candidate to challenge Shapiro. Mastriano's potential bid has alarmed President Donald Trump's advisers and Pennsylvania Republicans .
NBC News
13 minutes ago
- NBC News
Trump's tax law will mostly benefit the rich, while leaving poorer Americans with less, CBO says
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump 's tax and spending law will result in less income for the poorest Americans while sending money to the richest, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported Monday. The CBO estimates that the 10% of poorest Americans will lose roughly $1,200 a year as they experience restrictions on government programs like Medicaid and food assistance, while the richest 10% of Americans will see their income increase by $13,600 from tax cuts. Overall, American households will see more income from the tax cuts in the legislation, including middle income households, but the largest benefit will go to the top 10% of earners. The CBO's report comes as lawmakers are away from Washington, many taking their messages about the bill to voters. Republicans muscled the legislation — deemed 'the big, beautiful bill' by Trump — through Congress in July. Democrats all vehemently opposed the legislation, warning that its tax cuts and spending priorities would come at the expense of vital government aid programs and a ballooning national debt. 'This really is a big, beautiful bill for billionaires, but for the poor and the working class in this country, you are actually poorer,' said Rep. Brendan Boyle, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, in an MSNBC interview on Monday. Changes to eligibility for government food assistance under the law will impact millions of Americans, the CBO found. Roughly 2.4 million people won't be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under new work requirements for many recipients. Low-income Americans could also see their income reduced through further restrictions on food aid and other types of assistance included in the law. Already, more than 10 million Americans are expected to be without health insurance by 2034 due to changes to Medicaid under the law. Following release of the report, Rep. Jason Smith, the Republican chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he took issue with CBO's methodology, repeating criticism he has made in the past. 'CBO has a troubled track record of getting its estimates incorrect and, like Democrats, is biased in favor of more federal spending and higher taxes,' Smith said on social media. 'Don't buy it.' Republicans have been eager to sell the upsides of the legislation — arguing that the tax cuts will spur economic growth — while they are on a monthlong summer break from Washington. But those who have held townhalls in their home districts have often been greeted by an earful from voters and activists. 'Tax the rich,' the crowd in Lincoln, Neb. chanted last week as Republican Rep. Michael Flood attempted to defend the bill. Still, Trump has been undeterred.
UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
Trump nominates Bureau of Labor Statistics critic to head agency
Economist E.J. Antoni appears with President Donald Trump in the White House. On Monday, Trump nominated him as commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Photo by Donald Trump/Truth Social Aug. 11 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Monday nominated economist E.J. Antoni as commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a non-partisan agency he has criticized. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the chief economist with the conservative Heritage Foundation would replace Erika McEntarfer, who was fired by Trump on Aug. 1, alleging that she had manipulated the jobs reports for three months. "I am pleased to announce that I am nominating Highly Respected Economist, Dr. E.J. Antoni, as the next Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE. I know E.J. Antoni will do an incredible job in this new role. Congratulations E.J.!" Before the Heritage Foundation, he worked for the Texas Public Policy Commission. He holds master's and doctorate degrees in economics from Northern Illinois University. Last week, Antoni posted on X: "There are better ways to collect, process, and disseminate data -- that is the task for the next BLS commissioner, and only consistent delivery of accurate data in a timely manner will rebuild the trust that has been lost over the last several years." On Nov. 13, one week after Trump was elected again, he wrote on X: "DOGE needs to take a chainsaw to the BLS." Antoni had called for the firing of McEntarfer on Steve Bannon's podcast after the July jobs report was released. Later that day, she lost her job. "Last weeks Job's Report was RIGGED," Trump wrote on Truth Social, three days after the report came out. "Those big adjustments were made to cover up, and level out, the FAKE political numbers that were CONCOCTED in order to make a great Republican Success look less stellar!!!" Bannon, who was Trump's chief strategist for a portion of his first term, had advocated for hiring Antoni, who interviewed for the post, The Wall Street Journal on Sunday reported. Senate Republicans hold a 53-47 advantage and confirmation only requires 50 votes. In January 2024, McEntarfer was confirmed 86-8. "I don't think there's any grounds at all for this, for this firing, and it really hurts the statistical system," William Beach, who was nominated by Trump during his first term, said on CNN earlier this month. "Suppose that they get a new commissioner ... And they do a bad number. Well, everybody's going to think, 'well, it's not as bad as it probably really is,' because they're going to suspect political influence. So, this is damaging." The BLS distributes data that is used by agencies, including the Federal Reserve, and companies. Besides monthly jobs reports, BLS also provides data on occupations, including wages and job outlook. Consumer spending is also analyzed. The report showed 73,000 new jobs in July and unemployment rose to 4.2% from 4.1%, which was predicted and still historically low. But the previous two months were adjusted downward. May was revised from 144,000 jobs added to 19,000 jobs added, and June's revision went from 147,000 jobs added to 14,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Employment Situation Summary. The BLS said that monthly revisions "result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors."
