School cell phone ban passes Oklahoma House, Senate

State lawmakers are moving forward with measures in both the House and Senate to remove cell phones from Oklahoma classrooms.

Legislative Efforts to Ban Cell Phones

“This is one of those that changes the trajectory of our education system,” said Sen. Dave Rader (R-Tulsa).

Sen. Ally Seifried (R-Claremore) has been working on eliminating phones from schools since she entered the legislature in 2023. Previous measures have failed, but Seifried says she is confident she has the support for the amended version of her bill.

Will cell phones be banned in Oklahoma schools? Leaders back the bill.

The amendment would require schools to adopt a policy to fully eliminate cell phones in schools for one year. After the trial period, each district could adopt its own phone-free policy.

“Let's try it, let's do something hard for one year, and then, after that, give school boards the autonomy to decide what's best for them,” Seifried said.

State senators debated the measure for almost 40 minutes, sharing support and concerns. One of the biggest concerns is safety and the fact that kids would not have access to a phone in an emergency, like a school shooting.

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“Let parents express their concerns about emergencies,” said Sen. Mary Boren, (D-Norman).

“I understand the safety concerns, but phones are not safe,” Seifried said.

Many Republicans spoke in support of the legislation, citing data about the negative effects of technology on young students.

Sen. Adam Pugh (R-Edmond) talked about the rise in suicide, bullying, and other mental health declines.

“We've heard horror stories and tragedies,” Pugh said.

Oklahoma Lawmakers File Bill To Ban Or Restrict Cell Phone Use In Classrooms Amid Safety Concerns

Seifried says she’s heard from parents across the state who support the bill. She read one email from an Oklahoma mom who said this legislation could provide protections that her daughter could have benefitted from.

“My daughter was coaxed into sending an inappropriate picture to the boy who shared it with multiple friends. If this is going on in our school, how can our students be successful and learn?” Seifried said.

Many members, including former Oklahoma City Public School board member Sen. Mark Mann (D-OKC), think districts should have some kind of cell phone policy but disagree on local control.

“I certainly believe that every district should have a policy that deals with use of cell phones and electronic devices, but I fundamentally believe that policy should be dictated by the locally elected board of education in consultation with parents, teachers, and local superintendent,” said Mann.

Republicans argued that this should be an “all hands on deck” operation.

“This isn't about usurping local control, this is partnering with our local stakeholders to say, listen, this is a big enough issue that everyone has got to partner,” Sen. Kristen Thompson (R-Edmond) said.

Proposed Bill Would Make Oklahoma Classrooms 'Cell Phone Free'

After much debate, the legislation passed off the Senate floor. It will now head to the House for consideration. A similar measure in the House passed this week and will now head to the Senate.

Oklahoma Schools That Already Have Cell Phone Bans

Several Oklahoma school districts already enforce cell phone bans or restrictions during class time. Bixby, Jenks, Tulsa, and Union Public Schools have policies restricting the use of cell phones and other smart devices during class time.

Bixby Public Schools Prohibiting Student Cell Phone Use

However, usage between classes and at lunch varies by grade.

Tulsa Public Schools Ban Cell Phones, Wireless Devices For Upcoming School Year

Warner Public Schools, near Muskogee, has had its ban in place for about a decade and enforces some of the strictest guidelines. Students are not allowed to have their devices out at any time, including during lunch. Penalties for using a cell phone range from confiscation to suspension.

Roosevelt Middle School in Oklahoma City has seen success by implementing a campus-wide policy to keep students off their cell phones. Under the policy, students may bring their phones to school, but they must be turned off and put away during school hours. Students are given a warning if caught using their phones, with outlined consequences for further offenses. The district provides a school phone in each classroom for emergencies and utilizes an app called "Talking Points" for two-way communication between teachers and parents during the school day.

'Fully Engaged': Metro middle school sees success with cell phone policy

Next Steps for the Legislation

With both the House and Senate pushing forward on similar measures, the final details of a statewide ban will likely be ironed out in upcoming legislative sessions. If passed, Oklahoma schools would be required to implement the one-year ban before deciding on long-term policies at the district level. As the debate continues, lawmakers, educators, and parents will weigh the benefits and concerns of removing cell phones from classrooms.