Missouri received a “B” on a national report card evaluating state policies on cell phone use in schools. This grade, available at phonefreeschoolsreport.org, places Missouri in the top half of states.
The primary reason for Missouri’s strong grade is its bell-to-bell ban on student cell phone use during the school day. State law also protects school employees from liability when they act in good faith to enforce the policy.
Missouri fell short of an “A” grade because students are allowed to store their phones in an accessible place during the school day. Only four states received “A” grades—Indiana, Kansas, North Dakota, and Rhode Island. They all require phones to be stored in an inaccessible location.
Overall, Missouri’s “B” grade is good news. Our lawmakers deserve credit for moving early on an issue where both common sense and research point in the same direction. Removing phone access during the school day is a straightforward solution to the obvious distractions that students’ devices bring into the classroom.
That said, our policy can be improved. When phones remain within arm’s reach—inside backpacks or pockets—there is temptation to use them. Requiring inaccessible storage would make enforcement easier and reduce classroom disruptions further. It would also align Missouri with the strongest policies in the country.
Missouri has taken an important step toward phone-free classrooms. Strengthening the law to require inaccessible storage would help get the most out of our students during school.
