New South Carolina Budget Includes Ban on Cellphones in K-12 Schools

Schools across South Carolina will enforce a cellphone ban for students following the inclusion of a new clause in the state budget by legislators this Thursday.

The move has garnered support from education officials and teachers who have long sought help in managing student cellphone usage, according to Sherry East, president of the South Carolina Education Association.

“Cellphones pose a significant distraction,” remarked East, a high school science teacher. “Teaching becomes challenging when students are engrossed in their phones.”

In extensive deliberations on the state’s $13.8 billion budget, a committee comprising three House members and three senators greenlit various funding conditions, including the cellphone policy.

Public school districts must comply with the statewide policy to receive state funds, which will be outlined by the state Board of Education.

The imminent challenge lies in enforcing the policy to ensure schools adhere to the ban on student cellphone usage, with considerations underway for exceptions in emergency scenarios.

“Cellphone disruptions in classrooms are a significant concern,” East reiterated. “While action is underway, successful execution remains critical.”

Parental concerns over contacting their children in emergencies have prompted discussions on how to address safety exceptions in the final policy, voiced state Superintendent Ellen Weaver during a recent board meeting.

“While maintaining parent-child accessibility is essential, safety and educational concerns stemming from cellphones must be balanced,” noted Weaver.

Diverse Approaches

The move aims to enhance student well-being and combat bullying, both in physical and digital settings, as stated by Weaver. Despite the benefits of social media, negative impacts on youth mental health have been highlighted by the U.S. Surgeon General.

While some students utilize cellphones for educational purposes such as academic tasks like capturing nature images for assignments online, others see it predominantly as a source of distraction, observed Peter Lauzon, a biomedical sciences teacher.

“Ensuring academic focus amidst entertainment distractions like Netflix can be challenging,” remarked Lauzon. “However, phones serve a purpose.”

Statistics reveal that during the 2019-2020 academic year, approximately 77% of schools nationwide barred students from using phones except for educational engagements, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Approaches to cellphone use in schools vary across South Carolina, with differing policies in districts like Greenwood School District 50, Charleston County School District, and Richland School District One.

Initial debates questioned the necessity of a statewide rule on cellphone usage, considering existing district-level policies, raised by House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister.

However, streamlining policies across districts via state intervention will ensure consistency, noted Weaver, emphasizing collaboration with superintendents to establish unified guidelines.

While educators back the initiative seeking long-awaited solutions to discipline and mental health issues, student reception may likely be less enthusiastic.

Acting in agreement, both the House and Senate resolved to implement a full-day ban on cellphone use, aligning with the Senate’s proposition.

Additional Provisions

Among the budget stipulations agreed upon on Thursday were contentious Senate proposals, one necessitating parental consent for library book selections containing explicit content and another mandating students to use facilities according to their biological sex.

While proponents argue these measures safeguard children and maintain restroom privacy, opponents, particularly Democrats, expressed concerns over potential repercussions on libraries and transgender students.

Following Senate approval along party lines, the measures are set to be integrated into the final budget proposal by the committee of six legislators.