Central ND News

Gov. Kelly Armstrong, First Lady Kjersti Armstrong, and Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden have announced their support for new legislation aimed at enhancing student learning and well-being by implementing phone-free policies in public schools across North Dakota. The proposed amendments to Senate Bill 2354 and House Bill 1160 would mandate that students' personal electronic devices be turned off and securely stored during school hours.

"We want to give something back to students: the freedom to learn and grow in school without the distraction of their personal electronic devices and social media," said Gov. Armstrong. He emphasized that such policies could improve academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being while allowing teachers more time for instruction.

Lt. Gov. Strinden noted the inconsistency of current phone policies as a source of confusion for students, parents, and teachers alike. "Establishing a baseline with a bell-to-bell phone-free policy will ensure students in every public school have the same opportunity to learn without the distraction of cell phones and social media while in school," she stated.

The proposal includes exceptions for students requiring devices for medical reasons or individual education plans (IEPs) but allows tablets and other school-issued devices for educational purposes. A funding allocation of $1.5 million is proposed to assist schools with equipment expenses like lockable pouches or phone lockers.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt supported the initiative, citing research indicating that phone-free environments reduce distractions and enhance focus among students. "Parents and teachers worldwide have seen the damage to students' attention, education, and mental health caused by spending much of the school day on their phones," he remarked.

Senator Michelle Axtman introduced SB 2354, while Representative Jim Jonas led HB 1160's sponsorship; both agreed to amend their bills accordingly. The amendments also received backing from House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, and State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler.

Axtman highlighted the need for a clear statewide policy: "The most effective way to reverse negative trends...is to support our schools by enacting a clear device-free policy."

Sixteen states currently enforce some level of phone-free policies in schools, with several others considering similar measures according to anxiousgeneration.com.

Addyson Rademacher-Nyame, an eighth-grader at Mandan Middle School who testified in favor of the proposal called it "a great start to building healthy habits." She urged lawmakers: "Please consider this affects not only my generation but all those that will follow."