Cellphones To Be Banned During Class Time In MI K-12 Public Schools This Fall: What To Know

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill Tuesday that will ban K-12 students across the state from using their cellphones in class.

The legislation requires all public school districts to create their own policies by next fall that will prohibit students from using their cellphones during class time, except for medical reasons and emergencies.

Traditional flip phones (that cannot access the internet) will also still be allowed, though schools can go further and enact their own stricter cellphone-use-policies if they choose.

Lawmakers said keeping phones away from the students during class time will allow the kids to focus more on their schoolwork and encourage healthier habits with screen time and social media use.

There would also be exceptions for phone use as part of specific assignments and other situations, such as passing classes and during lunch, mainly so they can still coordinate after-school activities with their families.

"I’m proud to sign these bipartisan bills that will help prioritize academic success and support youth mental health," Whitmer said. "We know that when students put their phones down, their grades go up. These bills will help keep kids focused in the classroom and break their growing dependency on screens and social media. We could all benefit from looking up at the world instead of down at our phones."

State Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, worked with Rochester Hills Rep. Mark Tisdel to craft the rare bipartisan legislation on school policy.

"We’re in the middle of a mental health crisis that is hurting kids," Tisdel said. "Getting cellphones out of the classroom will help protect young, developing brains, and I’m glad we were able to work together to get this done."

Next, Tisdel said he will work on legislation that will give parents more control over how their children use social media.

"Social media is addictive by design; we’ve got to break the spell so kids can be free to be kids again," he said.

Polehanki, who worked as a public school teacher for nearly 20 years, said she knows firsthand how cell phone use interferes with a student's ability to focus on their schoolwork in the classroom.

"We all know that our educators are tasked with plenty enough already, so the last thing they need is the distraction of a cell phone going off while they’re trying to teach," Polehanki said.

Lawmakers cited health studies showing that high screen times are connected to a rise in anxiety and depression, diminished attention spans and a negative impact on social skills among U.S. teens.

Roughly 90 percent of educators support policies that reduce cell phone use during class time to address these concerns, according to the National Education Association.