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Sen. Terry Williams introduces S.21 to ban student phones during school day and bar required social media use
Summary
Sen. Terry Williams told the Education Committee S.21 would require "bell-to-bell" phone-free policies in Vermont schools, bar schools from requiring or using social media to communicate directly with students, and include medical and IEP exceptions; legislative counsel explained statutory definitions, scope, and phased effective dates.
Senator Terry Williams (Rutland District) introduced S.21 to the Education Committee on Feb. 6, proposing statewide "bell-to-bell" policies that would prohibit student possession and use of cell phones and personal electronic devices from arrival to dismissal and bar schools from requiring or integrating social media for communication with students. "This bill has 2 main provisions. First, it directs all of our schools public and independent to adopt and implement a policy prohibiting the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the entirety of a school day," Williams said.
Williams framed the bill as responding to student mental-health concerns and classroom distraction, citing survey…
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