Tennessee State Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) introduced legislation for the upcoming session of the General Assembly that would require all Tennessee school systems, including private institutions, to develop a policy to limit student cellphone use outside specific circumstances.
Filed with the General Assembly on November 19, a summary of Cepicky’s HB 13 reveals it would require schools, “adopt a policy to prohibit students from using wireless communication devices during instructional time except in certain circumstances.”
Text of the legislation reveals school officials would need to craft policies including tablet devices, laptops, portable gaming systems, and other electronic devices in addition to cellphones.
Under the legislation, school board officials would need to institute a policy that specifically “prohibits a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time,” post it to their website, and publish to their website a written policy stating that students who violate the policy could have their devices confiscated by a teacher.
Cepicky’s legislation includes a provision allowing teachers to let students “use a wireless communication device for educational purposes” and specifically notes that students cannot be penalized for using their cellphones during an emergency.
The bill would also require officials to create exceptions in their policy in order to allow students to use an electronic device if its necessity is noted in their Individualized Education Program (IEP), or is made necessary for the student’s education due to a disability.
Cepicky is the chair of the Education Instruction Subcommittee and a member of the Education Administration Committee in the Tennessee House of Representatives. In June, he said Tennessee’s public school system can be improved through school choice and reform.
The legislation comes as Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti continues to warn that social media is dangerous and manipulative to children. In January, Skrmetti stated that the social media company behind Facebook and Instagram embarked on “a very sophisticated effort by a very sophisticated company to design a product that kids would have a hard time not using.”
Skrmetti confirmed in September that he remains interested in the “social media impact on teen health.”
It also comes as Tennessee lawmakers consider the Tennessee Education Freedom Act, which would create 20,000 scholarships to help families enroll students in their chosen private or parochial school. Governor Bill Lee argued the legislation will serve as a first step toward universal school choice.
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
