Witnesses: Limiting personal devices during instructional time improves focus, discipline and classroom climate

The subcommittee on early childhood, elementary, and secondary education heard testimony that schools can reduce distractions and improve learning by restricting student access to personal smartphones during instructional time. Chairman Kiley opened the hearing noting that "screens are now pervasive, mostly in the form of student cell phones" and said the panel would examine state and district approaches.

Members of the panel and witnesses described multiple approaches and reported early results. Rich Nye, senior adviser for education policy to Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox, told the committee that Utah urged schools to remove cell phones from classrooms and that a follow-up bill passed with bipartisan support. "Students will not have unfettered access to smartphones while they are under the care of an educator," Nye said, summarizing Utah's statewide expectation for a bell-to-bell restriction and noting exemptions for individualized education programs, Section 504 plans, or medical…