House Democratic Leader Opposes Governor’s Cell Phone Bill

The top Democrat in the Iowa House says cell phone policies for Iowa schools should be left up to school boards. 

Governor Kim Reynolds has introduced legislation that would require school boards to adopt a policy that bans cell phone use during classtime. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst says the legislature should require schools to have a cell phone policy for students, but not dictate what that policy should be.

Seventy-two percent of U.S. high school teachers who participated in a Pew Research Center survey said cell phone use during class was a major distraction.

Konfrst made her comments during a weekend appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa PBS. Governor Reynolds says cell phones are not only a distraction, but a deterrent to development in the classroom. She says if her bill becomes law, the Iowa Department of Education will provide sample policies with room for potential common-sense exemptions. The legislation also requires schools to provide students in 6th, 7th and 8th grade with social media training.

story courtesy of Radio Iowa