Alaska committee hears bill to restrict student use of personal wireless devices during school day; department and educators back model policy

Rep. Zach Fields told the House Education Committee on Feb. 24 that House Bill 57 would require the Department of Education and Early Development to adopt a model policy prohibiting student possession or use of personal wireless telecommunication devices for the duration of the school day. “It requires the Department of Education Early Development to develop and adopt a model policy prohibiting the use of personal cell phones for the entire duration of the school day,” Fields said, citing research linking phones and social media to negative academic and mental-health outcomes.

Kelly Lesson, an Anchorage School Board member speaking as an individual, said she supports the bill's intent but recommended language changes to clarify whether the policy bars possession (device physically on campus) or accessing the device during instructional time. “I would recommend that you change the word 'possessing' ... to 'accessing' and consider replacing 'regular school hours, including lunch and passing periods' with 'during instructional time,'” Lesson said. She also urged clear medical and IEP exemptions and cautioned about enforcement burdens.

David Booth, principal of Palmer High School, described his school's full-day ban on student phone access and attributed large improvements in academic and disciplinary measures to that policy. Booth said the school saw a 28 percent reduction in failing grades, substantial drops in disciplinary incidents and a 96 percent decrease in cyberbullying following the ban, and urged the committee to consider districts' experience implementing stricter rules.

JB Atkinson, a school-based therapist, described local mental-health data and school experience that motivated a similar phone ban at his school. He cited research—including a study he referred to involving college freshmen—finding the mere presence of phones lowers attention and argued that removal improved student focus and reduced in‑school drama.

Dina Bishop, commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development, strongly supported removing phone access during the school day and clarified the State Board's model policy defines “school day” as the period from student arrival on campus until dismissal at the end of instructional time. “By removing cell phones during school hours, we can give students the much needed reprieve from these stressors, creating a space where they can focus on learning and personal growth,” Bishop said and cited The Anxious Generation and other research.

Committee members asked whether districts are already able to adopt such policies (several said they were), whether students who leave campus at lunch could keep phones off campus, and how medical exemptions would be handled; Rep. Fields said the intent is “off and away all day” and that medical/IEP uses would be allowed. After questions, the committee held HB 57 for further consideration.