Senate Education Committee backs bill asking Idaho districts to adopt "distraction‑free" phone policies

The Idaho Senate Education Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1032 to the Senate floor with a recommendation that it be passed, after hearing more than an hour of testimony from educators, students, parents and district leaders. The bill would require each school district to assess the impact of personal mobile devices on students and adopt a policy that “promotes distraction free learning” by the end of the calendar year.

The measure, sponsored in committee by Senator Burnt, would not prescribe a statewide rule but would mandate that districts develop their own policies and implementation timelines. “This proposed legislation requires that all school districts in Idaho assess the impact of mobile device usage on students and develop a policy that promotes distraction free learning,” Senator Burnt said during his presentation.

Committee members heard extended testimony from district officials and students who described changes after local bans. Derek Bub, superintendent of West Ada School District, said West Ada’s phased, districtwide policy produced higher classroom engagement and fewer behavior incidents. “At the middle school, we’ve seen a 45% reduction in behaviors,” Bub said. Laura Stone, chair of the Blaine…