State Sen. Seifried files bill for schools to adopt 'bell to bell' cell phone policies

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Seifried files bill empowering schools to adopt ‘bell to bell’ cell phone policies

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 30th) – Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, has filed legislation instructing all public school districts to adopt policies preventing student cell phone use from “bell to bell.”

Seifried filed Senate Bill 139 after she cohosted a two-day interim study to explore the educational challenges that arise when students have their cell phones in the classroom. During the study, over a dozen educators and mental health professionals discussed how student phone use leads to poor academic outcomes and overall worse mental health.

Given the drop in test scores nationwide over the last decade and the rise in rates of anxiety and depression in children, numerous researchers from across the country who presented recommended schools limit phone use from “bell to bell” throughout the entire school day to minimize the negative effects and learning distractions.

“With national research increasingly showing that classroom phone use harms students’ grades and their overall well-being, more states are taking action to limit devices in schools,” Seifried said. “It’s time for Oklahoma to lead the way in creating distraction-free schools where students can devote their full attention to their education.”

Senate Bill 139 empowers school districts to craft their own policies for restricting cell phones for the entire school day. These policies must accommodate students who use their phones to monitor medical conditions and allow phone use in emergencies. Districts must also detail disciplinary steps for students who violate phone-free policies.  

“Rural and urban educators overwhelmingly agree that students perform better when they’re not inundated with texts, social media messages and constant notifications,” Seifried said. “But phasing phones out of the classroom may look different in smaller schools than in larger schools. This legislation gives districts the flexibility to create their own phone-free policies, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all mandate on schools.” 

Seifried’s bill also directs the Oklahoma State Department of Education to establish a grant program to help middle and high schools implement phone-free policies.