Bill requiring school districts develop cell phone policies becomes law
DENVER (KDVR) — Governor Jared Polis signed a number of bills into state law Thursday, including one measure designed to keep students focused on learning and off their phones.
By next summer, school districts across the state will need to have some policy in place regarding students using these devices during class.
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State lawmakers are calling on school districts to implement a student cell phone policy. Sponsors left what the policy exactly says up to each school board.
'This bill provides critical local control that's important to Colorado parents, school districts and students. It encourages them to work together on cell phone policy that best suits their respective communities. We have got to prioritize our youth and ensure that they are both safe and have learning environment where they can succeed,' said state Senator Lisa Frizell.
Many districts in the state do not have a policy in place. Boulder Valley School District is one of the few that does.
'I think each school district is a little bit different. So you certainly understand that they need to make a decision that's best for their communities. But here in Boulder Valley, it's gone relatively well. Really, I would say the payoff so far has been more student interaction. You know? When you walk in a school, especially at lunchtime, you know students are now playing games together. Ping pong, giant Jenga, all of these kind of fun things together in the lunchroom,' said BVSD's Chief Communications Officer Randy Barber. He said students and families did have to adjust to the policy at first, but the district met families in the middle by letting students keep their phones in their backpacks.'Trying to have that compliance of students not having access to their cell phones and being attentive to each other during lunch and that kind of thing has to be balanced a. Little bit with the concerns of parents and that really came down to, for us, allowing them to still have access to their backpack to be able to reach a parent after something happens at their school so parents don't have to worry about if they're okay,' Barber said.
Lawmakers did exempt tablets and laptops from the new law. Districts have until July 2026 to implement a policy.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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