Tennessee kids will have to say goodbye to cellphones in schools

Tennessee students may soon be forced to part with their cellphones during school hours.

Both chambers of the statehouse overwhelmingly passed a bill this week banning classroom cellphone use. The legislation will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk.

The bill bans students from using cellphones and other wireless devices during school instructional hours. Other devices subject to the ban include smart watches, tablets, laptop computers and gaming devices.

Exceptions will be made for students with disabilities or other medical needs. Those who rely on wireless devices for educational purposes will still have access to them.

The bill passed in the House on Monday with bipartisan support in a vote of 80 to 10 and needed just one final Senate vote on Thursday. It passed 30-0 in that chamber.

The legislation affords school districts discretion in how the ban is implemented. For example, some schools may prohibit cellphones during the entire school day. While others might opt to only limit the use of wireless devices during classroom instruction. Schools will also decide where the devices would be stored and how students who violate the ban will be disciplined.

Under the bill, students would be allowed to use wireless devices during emergencies.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, supports local school districts implementing policies best suited for their schools.

“So, it’s not us setting one policy for every school district in the state,” he said during a Housing hearing. “And that’s going to vary, I guarantee you, from elementary schools to middle schools to high schools.”

States like Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina have already adopted statewide restrictions. Backers of these bans insist that improved academic performance is only one of the benefits – highlighting the negative effect that unlimited cellphone use has on students’ mental health.

Julia Scelfo, the founder of the advocacy group Mothers Against Media Addiction, told NPR that smartphones have replaced in-person interactions that are vital for building healthy social and emotional health.

A 24-hour “digital cleanse” that took place at Maplewood High School lends credence to the idea that less cell phone usage leads to better social interactions among students. In 2015, a young teacher challenged his students to go one full day without using their cell phones. Although some admitted to crying whenever their parents took away their phones, they joined the one-day event titled #PanthersUnplugged. The teacher told WPLN that his classroom was noisier than normal – with students talking, laughing, and flirting with one another because their eyes weren’t glued to their phones.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R- Crossville voiced his support for the ban during a House hearing in which he pointed to studies showing a positive correlation between cell phone use and increased rates of suicide, bullying, and social disorders.

“Anything you can do to keep that out of the classroom is beneficial,” Sexton said.

If signed into law, the ban goes into effect on July 1 and applies to the 2025-2026 school year.