Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Student representative urges limits on classroom cell phone use ahead of 2025 legislative push
Summary
The board’s student representative told the Mississippi Board of Education on Oct. 4 that growing student phone use is harming focus and mental health and urged the department and lawmakers to consider restrictions during the 2025 legislative session.
The Mississippi Board of Education heard an appeal from its student representative on Oct. 4 to curb classroom cell phone use as lawmakers prepare for the 2025 legislative session. The representative said younger students now grow up with near-constant connectivity and that phones in classrooms impede attention and social development.
"As younger students are getting cell phones, it kind of creates an issue," the student representative said, urging educators and legislators to weigh policies that reduce in-class distractions. The student cited research linking excessive screen time and social media use with anxiety, depression and declining academic performance.
The student representative recommended that the department and lawmakers consider structured limits that support mental well‑being and focused learning, noting 15 states have enacted policies recommending or requiring reduced phone use in classrooms. The remarks were framed as guidance for the upcoming session rather than a formal proposal from the board.
Board members did not take action on a phone policy during the meeting. The topic was raised again later in the agenda during workforce and school-safety discussions, and staff indicated they would continue to monitor survey feedback and stakeholder input as they prepare policy recommendations.
