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Committee reviews governor's student-device bill, leaves implementation details to local school boards
Summary
Lawmakers discussed a governor-backed bill that would require school districts to adopt policies limiting student use of personal electronic devices during instructional time. Members questioned storage requirements, exemptions for students with medical or behavioral needs, and fiscal impacts; the committee did not adopt a final draft.
The House Education Committee reviewed a governor-backed bill requiring each school district or governing body to adopt a policy limiting student use of personal electronic communication devices during instructional time and school-related activities, but left key details to local boards and instructed sponsors to refine draft language.
Representative Schreiberbeck, presenting a version that staff and school-board advisers helped draft, told the committee the measure would require districts to adopt and implement written policies and would give local boards discretion to "limit or allow student access to personal electronic communication devices outside of instructional time during a school-related activity." She said the policy language was intended to give districts tools to reduce distraction while allowing flexibility for local conditions.
Committee members raised questions about practical implementation. Representative Jonas, a current school-board member, said coaches and…
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