TOLEDO, Ohio — In his State of the State address, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine proposed several measures to help children, including banning cell phones in the classroom.
House Bill 485 would ban the use of cell phones in classrooms with a few exceptions:
- Teachers would be able to permit the students to use their cell phones for educational purposes.
- Students would be able to use cell phones in the event of an emergency or to manage their health care.
- Students would be able to use it if it is included in the student’s individualized education program.
Schools would be required to develop a plan and prohibit students from accessing social media platforms through the use of internet access unless directed by a teacher for educational purposes.
The Toledo School for the Arts has had a restrictive phone policy since 2022.
"Prior to our policy they were just in their hands almost all the time," said TSA Director Rob Koenig. "And so with the policy, the expectation is that they essentially have access if they need them, but they wouldn't actually have them in their hand while they're in classrooms."
"What I heard was that the cell phones are relatively large distraction to our students. And so instead of learning about math they may be texting their friends or they might be getting a text from their parents," he said.
If the statewide mandate does get passed, TSA will be ahead of the game., Koenig said.
"Unless something strange happens in its amendment process and there are additional protocols required I think we're doing what that potential statute would be calling for," he said.