[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6418898,"mediaKeyId","2219743-677decebf62feb436b8c5e9caacb9a3f","parentId",2219743,"title","Education committee chair highlights social media, smartphones as cause for student declines; schedules NAEP and higher-education briefings","audioSeconds",18,"startMs",2211000,"endMs",2193000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219743-677decebf62feb436b8c5e9caacb9a3f&start=2211&end=2193","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219743-677decebf62feb436b8c5e9caacb9a3f/thumbnail_2211000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6418898/Tennessee/Education-committee-chair-highlights-social-media-smartphones-as-cause-for-student-declines-schedules-NAEP-and-higher-education-briefings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6418898-9d7351a4997947c7486bf2437b261d6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775030835&Signature=oKx7e0V-HfPgZCE4Ia3Zw2QUZmZMOvtBCEOu9Lyj3Qvw-OJZ6I7te40gC0Ij1L9RCDaKC372LQuEH86MzTZ7NeXjMyqpEPsaAxLLZrpFbf3ErsK9YygADOb6ACUvsw-NJ850a0p8ovefy8NYdwiAXzm9-FiKsVIp5K~OjkzS02Y34g~UqS3jDdC4XgB94nqSzaWED7n2y1h-p1hoXM~FQXnCntQ~KFH-KCxYS-6jn4kB4-aL5XbI-zJeMOg3T1xedSaYKZcyltirQnJML-KiKiBjdxMo1nChrd0bpCXWdYHlojXCtoXsYlGyY2Xe-2a84fnB-yQbTPUmm0iwQmePiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","Chairman White told members of the Tennessee House Education Committee that he intends to focus the panel on student learning declines and mental-health concerns potentially related to smartphones and social media, and he has scheduled presentations next week from SCORE and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

\"I gave everybody a copy of The Anxious Generation,\" the chairman said, encouraging members to read the book as context for bills that may target cellphone and social-media impacts on youth. He described a long-term decline in national assessment scores that began around 2010 and worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Why it matters: Committee priorities shape what legislation the body will consider. The chair linked declines in reading and other assessment measures to broader social trends, signaled potential bills addressing device use, and scheduled two informational briefings that will inform future debate.

Details and schedule

- Book and framing: The chair distributed copies of The Anxious Generation (author cited in public reporting as Jonathan Haidt) and urged members to review the material to understand links between social media use and student well-being.

- Assessment context: The chair reviewed the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), noting long-term improvements for several decades followed by declines beginning around 2010 and a sharper drop tied to the pandemic.

- Scheduled briefings: Committee staff said SCORE will present an update on what the recent NAEP scores mean for Tennessee (the chair noted NAEP results were released Jan. 29). The Tennessee Higher Education Commission will present next, and the chair identified Dr. Steven Gentile of THEC as the scheduled presenter.

- Policy signals: The chair said members should expect bills this session that address smartphones and social media impacts on students; no bill text was introduced or debated during the organizational meeting.

Representative Ronnie Glenn asked the chair to clarify expectations for the committee’s direction; the chair replied that the committee’s agenda will ultimately be shaped by member bills but that improving reading proficiency and statewide assessment results are central goals.

The committee did not take formal action on policy at the organizational meeting; members were asked to attend the scheduled briefings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Education Committee\tFeb 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Chairman White told the House Education Committee he wants the panel to address declines in student performance and mental health tied to smartphones and social media; he distributed copies of The Anxious Generation and scheduled briefings from SCORE on recent NAEP results and from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.","taxTitle","Education, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",78388,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6418911,"House Education Committee sets electronic voting, sign-in and testimony rules for session",1148,1023000,2171000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219743-677decebf62feb436b8c5e9caacb9a3f&start=1023&end=2171","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219743-677decebf62feb436b8c5e9caacb9a3f/thumbnail_1023000.jpg","/articles/6418911/Tennessee/House-Education-Committee-sets-electronic-voting-sign-in-and-testimony-rules-for-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6418911-85591aea5fd80b4439043108fb803a71/orig.mp4?Expires=1775030835&Signature=Z7cFV6EsjYeTHteeWHHZHi~vHHhwLSF0IEAox-C1sP7t2KOtAqRSckZXI5vyehh9y8H-0z3NPzgcgqMHkmrrPRsMYG99GByu8jQ9GWAohEvrGVnybTlv4h42yzhHl2kMX0kbhtLhiGdibvlGZvZ-Qwy4aFOrHQuLzWJQdBLCng6bIaPzfHlJPC0nEg3oOmID1GrhN3UrAZraX9CkoFwgtcTAsTN8EsUzu~wZ4uQZ7j1uy2x6dN5qMht~YIxC6Kk3xaZjVMVC7mbzbgpGmNqOm-uBsNiJG8z3uGurSHnh1O1um087oIMtQnsGaqIvWy-j7Nx6DM4kT9SQByWBiVGH9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House Education Committee on a procedural organizational meeting clarified how members and witnesses will participate during the session, including electronic voting, sign-in requirements and deadlines for testimony and amendments, Chairman White said.

The committee will use an electronic “master board” for roll-call votes so members’ individual votes will be visible on the screen, Chairman White said. Clerks will continue to record attendance; members who arrive after the initial roll call must sign in so their presence is counted for votes. “Everyone will be able to sign in,” the committee clerk said, “and once you come in, you can sign in, and we'll count that you're here.”

Why it matters: the changes affect how members participate and how the public tracks committee outcomes. Members must ensure their microphone/board registration is active to have votes recorded, and staff must receive amendment and testimony materials on a consistent schedule.

Key procedural details

- Signing in: Members must log into the committee system so their microphones and voting status are registered. Clerks will accept late sign-ins and record those members as present for votes after they sign in.

- Electronic voting/roll call: Final votes will be recorded and displayed on the board. For quick procedural amendments the chair may ask for a verbal “yea” or “nay,” but if the chair cannot clearly distinguish the result, the vote will be placed on the board as a roll call.

- Testimony requests: Individuals asking to testify to the committee must request permission at least 24 hours in advance using the online form directed to the chair's office.

- Amendment deadline and materials: Because the committee meets at noon on Tuesdays, amendment text must be filed by 10 a.m. on the Monday before the meeting. The committee has been asked not to distribute paper materials; documents for members should be submitted electronically in advance so staff can add them to the dashboard and email them to members.

- In-room restrictions and log-out: Only committee staff, the chair and two leaders are permitted on the dais. Members should log out of the system at the end of the meeting so their microphones are deactivated.

Clerical and staff roles named during the meeting included research analyst Carly Easley and clerks Desiree White and Celise Gearhart; the chair asked staff to help members adjust to the new workflow.

No bills were taken up during the organizational meeting; the chair asked members to arrive on time for future hearings and to follow the new electronic procedures so votes and records are accurate.","The Tennessee House Education Committee clarified in its organizational meeting that members must sign in for votes, the committee will use electronic roll-call voting displayed on the board, testimony requests require 24-hour notice and amendment deadlines fall at 10 a.m. the day before meetings.","actionData","errors"]

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Education committee chair highlights social media, smartphones as cause for student declines; schedules NAEP and higher-education briefings

House Education Committee sets electronic voting, sign-in and testimony rules for session