photo by: Rose Conlon/Kansas News Service

Kansas will join at least 20 other states in banning cell phones in K-12 classrooms.

A new bell-to-bell cellphone ban will greet students when they return to school next week, raising questions about what the state law requires, how the Lawrence school district will enforce it and whether any exceptions apply.

Lawrence school board members have not yet approved the new policy involving students’ cellphone use during school hours, but they’re anticipated to do so at their meeting on Monday. The proposed policy applies to all pre-K through 12th grade students, and states that cellphones and other devices are “prohibited during the school day.”

Students will be responsible for turning off their devices and storing them in an inaccessible location during the entire school day, as the Journal-World reported.

This doesn’t apply to all devices, though — only students’ personal devices. In the upcoming school year, students would be able to use district-issued devices for instructional purposes directed by staff and teachers.

The Journal-World put together a list of frequently asked questions by parents, families and community members, and answered them:

How does the new electronic communications device policy differ from the current one?

The district’s current policy prohibits cellphone and electronic device use during class time, unless it is for a specific instructional purpose, as directed by a teacher. High school students have been allowed to use their devices during noninstructional activities, such as lunch and passing periods. At the middle and elementary school levels, students are not allowed to use cellphones or other devices during the scheduled school day.

The new policy would not allow personal communication devices to be used at all during the school day for all grade levels – meaning the devices will need to still be put away and turned off during lunch and passing periods for high school students.

The Lawrence school district recently implemented a policy about cellphone and personal device use – why is there a new policy?

The device policy was changed not even two years ago in December 2024, as the Journal-World reported, and the school district created the policy after parents and staff expressed concerns about cellphone use in the classroom. The current policy isn’t as strict as the newly proposed policy.

The new policy going into effect in the upcoming school year was crafted to comply with a bell-to-bell ban on cellphones in schools that’s mandated by state law – House Bill 2299. The law bans student use of personal electronic devices during the school day, meaning students can’t use personal communication devices from the first bell to dismissal.

What devices are included in the policy?

The policy will not just be limited to cellphones. It includes any personal electronic communication device that provides voice, text or video communications between two parties. Those devices include tablets, computers, smartwatches, wireless headphones and earbuds, text messaging devices and/or personal digital assistants not owned by the school district.

Does the policy have any exemptions?

Students with disabilities or other special educational needs would be allowed to use a personal communication device during the school day if that were required by their Individualized Education Program or Section 504 Plan, and an exception could also be permitted if it were deemed medically necessary by a licensed physician.

How will the new policy be enforced by teachers and staff?

The policy says it is the responsibility of the teacher, coach or staff member in charge to “set the expectation and create conditions to support … a personal electronic communication device-free learning environment.” Summer Workman, the district’s spokesperson, told the Journal-World via email that “Further information will be shared with school families through their building principal.”

If students were to violate the policy, disciplinary responses could include a parent notification, administrative referral or other appropriate disciplinary action consistent with district policy.

How can parents and families contact their students while they’re in school?

The policy says “Students who need to contact a parent, guardian or person acting as a parent during the school day shall be supported in that process.”

Will students be able to contact parents and families in the case of an emergency?

In the case of an emergency, the policy says “students shall follow the direction of school personnel. Communication with emergency responders or family members shall occur as directed by school staff.”