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(Iowa) -- As students get ready to head back to school, teachers and administrators are preparing to enact Iowa’s new law banning phones during classroom instruction.
"What a difference that device has made. You have a small computer in your hand. So yes, it's a great tool, but we also see the negative effects. I think the state law is recognizing that, and I hope we can all get behind it and get back to learning in the classroom," said Mitch Kuhnert, Principal of Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines.
The law, signed in April, bans cellphone use during classroom instructional time. School districts across the state of Iowa are implementing their own policies in line with the cell phone law. Some schools are opting for a full bell-to-bell ban, others are varying cell phone restrictions based on grade or only allowing students to have phones during certain times of the day.
Several schools have already adopted cell phone bans. Hoover High School was the first to ban phones in the classroom at the beginning of last school year. The Ankeny School District implemented a bell-to-bell phone ban in October 2024.
"While these things can't be tied solely to a policy that governs cellphones, we have seen our test scores go up and bullying, specifically cyberbullying and threats of violence via the device go significantly down," said Samantha Auckes of Ankeny Community Schools.
West Des Moines Schools are setting restrictions based on grade level. Kindergarten through sixth grade will have a full ban. Seventh and eighth graders will be allowed to have their phones during lunchtime, and high school students will be permitted to use them during passing periods and lunch.
Kuhnert said Stilwell has tried to implement cell phone restrictions in the past but faced challenges enforcing them consistently from class to class.
"It will be a transition. Most of our kids are used to the concept of not having phones out during class, so that’s not going to be new. But with the state law, all the teachers are going to be paying more attention," said Kuhnert.
Ankeny Community Schools’ policy does allow buildings to permit students to use mobile devices in certain instances if it supports the student’s education.
"It allows for a little more flexibility. There have been some things we’ve had to take into consideration to support a kid’s academic day, but by and large, most of our schools are bell to bell," said Auckes.
The law allows for exceptions to accommodate students with disabilities, English language learners, and those with Individualized Education Plans. Some schools also allow students to have phones if they need their devices for physical or mental health-related reasons.