OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, has introduced legislation requiring public school districts to implement policies restricting student cell phone use during the entire school day. Senate Bill 139, filed ahead of the upcoming legislative session, seeks to address the academic and mental health challenges linked to classroom phone use.
The bill comes after a two-day interim study cohosted by Seifried, where educators and mental health professionals highlighted the negative effects of phone use in schools. Presenters discussed how constant phone access contributes to distractions, declining test scores, and rising rates of anxiety and depression among students.
“With national research increasingly showing that classroom phone use harms students’ grades and their overall well-being, more states are taking action to limit devices in schools,” Seifried said. “It’s time for Oklahoma to lead the way in creating distraction-free schools where students can devote their full attention to their education.”
Senate Bill 139 empowers school districts to develop their own “bell to bell” phone-free policies. These policies must allow exceptions for students needing phones for medical conditions and emergencies, as well as outline disciplinary measures for violations.
“Rural and urban educators overwhelmingly agree that students perform better when they’re not inundated with texts, social media messages, and constant notifications,” Seifried said. “But phasing phones out of the classroom may look different in smaller schools than in larger schools. This legislation gives districts the flexibility to create their own phone-free policies, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all mandate on schools.”
The legislation also directs the Oklahoma State Department of Education to establish a grant program to assist middle and high schools in implementing phone-free policies.
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