(Des Moines) Cell phone usage could be banned in classrooms and limited in vehicles.
Governor Kim Reynolds proposed a bill that the state House approved that prohibits cell phones from being in students’ possession during classroom instruction. Reynolds released the following statement in response to the Iowa House passing a bill to limit cell phone use during instructional time in Iowa schools:
“With digital distractions at an all-time high, we must ensure Iowa classrooms maintain environments where focus, learning, and productivity can truly thrive,” Gov. Reynolds said. “Our students deserve the opportunity to learn free from the distraction of personal electronic devices. Already, we’ve seen positive, proven results from schools that have implemented similar cell phone policies. Thank you to Iowa House legislators for passing this bill to help students fully engage in their education and achieve their highest potential in the classroom.”
Senate lawmakers also approved a bill for drivers to operate cellphones and other mobile devices only in hands-free or voice-activated modes. Both bills are gaining bipartisan support in each chamber.