The governor of Iowa wants to ban the use of cell phones in schools

Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to propose a ban on cell phones in K-12 schools in Iowa as a top priority in the upcoming 2025 legislative session.

The governor first announced her intention to address the issue last week during an interview with the Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau at the January 2025 State of the State address. Speaking Tuesday in Terrace Hill, Reynolds said she doesn’t yet have a final proposal to restrict cellphones in schools, but she plans to work with schools and school districts that have already implemented similar policies to figure out what a statewide measure would look like .

Several school districts across the state, including Ankeny, Ames, Dallas Center-Grimes and Ottumwa school districts, have implemented varying degrees of cell phone bans. Some limit phone use in schools all day, others limit attendance in classrooms. Other districts, including Des Moines and Iowa City, are considering similar proposals, with the Des Moines school board set to discuss policies banning cellphones in classrooms on Tuesday.

Reynolds said she wants to show “great respect” to the districts, educators and parents who have already been working on this issue across the country to find the best policies for their schools.

“There were different variations. Whatever I propose, I want to make sure that I respect the hard work that’s already been done by the school districts that have stepped up and implemented this, and really the process that they’ve gone through to do that,” said the governor. “So… I want to add to that and improve on it, I don’t really want to step on anything they’ve done. So it’ll probably be more of a bottom, that’s what we’re looking at, but just to encourage people to… move in that direction.”

Several states already have laws restricting cell phone use in schools. KFF Health News reported in September that eight states have such guidelines in state law. Indiana, Florida and Louisiana’s state laws have already been implemented for the 2024-2025 school year, while Minnesota, Virginia, Ohio and South Carolina will be implemented in 2025. California has also passed a law that will come into force in 2026.

Another nine states have pilot programs or have recommended policies from their state departments of education banning or restricting cell phone use in schools. Twelve other states, including Iowa, have considered statewide policies banning cellphones in schools in previous legislative sessions.

These policies have gained traction nationally as educators report difficulty controlling phone use in the classroom and studies show a link between social media use and higher rates of depression and anxiety among youth.

Reynolds said many communities and parents have advocated for cell phone restrictions in schools – and she has heard positive stories of increased student engagement from schools that have implemented these policies. Even at schools that allow students to use their phones during lunch, Reynolds said there are stories that many students no longer take out their phones.

“They’re really, really starting to connect with the (other) kids again and be kids,” Reynolds said. “And that’s what they, you know, should do. They should learn while they are in the classroom, where their full attention should be on them. And when you are with the children in the canteen or wherever during breaks – then talk. Let’s get back to communication and talking to each other. We’re so far from it, I think that’s part of the problem.”

Rep. Skyler Wheeler, chairman of the House Education Committee, did not say whether he or other Republican lawmakers in the House would support a cell phone ban policy, but said the caucus would consider the issue in 2025.

“House Republicans look forward to discussing this issue this session,” Wheeler said in a statement. “We want to make sure we discuss this with all stakeholders, including parents, and ensure the learning environment is as educationally focused as possible.”

This story was first published in the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Read that Original article.