“We are waiting to see the exact language of the bill,” said Fort Dodge Community School District Superintendent Josh Porter. “We already have pretty sound policies in place throughout the district. I’m sure it will require us to adjust in some way or another, but we also know the positive effect of students being engaged in learning and not distracted by electronic devices.”

Southeast Valley Superintendent Brian Johnson noted that the district’s middle school and elementary schools already have policies in place which ban student access to their cell phones during the school day.

“This will be a big change for our high school students,” added Johnson.

The Iowa House of Representatives passed House File 782 Tuesday by a vote of 92-4. The bill would require Iowa public and charter schools to limit use of phones and other personal electronic devices during classroom instructional time. The bill was one of Reynolds’ main priorities for this session.

State Rep. Ann Meyer, R- Fort Dodge, voted for the bill and believes it will positively affect student learning.

“I like this policy a lot,” said Meyer. “Cell phones are a distraction. Social media is detrimental to youth.”

“Digital distractions are at an all-time high, disrupting focus, learning, and productivity in our classrooms,” Reynolds said in a written statement. “Iowa students deserve to learn free from the disruption of personal electronic devices to fully focus on their education. We’ve seen tremendous progress in student behavior and engagement at our schools that have already implemented such policies. I look forward to signing this bill, allowing every Iowa student to once again prioritize learning.”

The bill will require Iowa’s K-12 public and charter school boards to adopt a policy beginning in the 2025-2026 school year that, at minimum, bans the use of personal electronic devices during instructional periods.

There are some exceptions to the ban for students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan that requires accommodations that involve the use of a cell phone or another device. In these instances, a parent must petition the school district and establish a reason related to a students’ mental or physical health that requires them to have a cell phone accessible during class.

The measure passed the House in March but was sent back after the Senate amended the bill requiring the state Education Department to create a model policy for device use by May 1. The House approved the amendment. A provision in earlier versions of the bill would have required students in grades 6 through 8 take training on the effects of social media, however the provision was not in the passed legislation. An amendment was also offered that would require private schools to adopt the measure as well, but it did not pass either.

“I struggle to understand why this is only a public school mandate,” said Johnson. “I am told an amendment to extend these requirements to private (accredited nonpublic) schools was introduced but did not pass. Therefore, the bill’s mandates apply exclusively to public schools. This is just one of several laws that pertains only to public schools and not private schools. Private schools get the same amount of state supplemental aid per child as public schools, yet the rules are different. If the private schools have better protocol and policy to teach students when it is acceptable to use a cell phone in school, I would much rather that be shared with the public school systems.”

Reynolds is anticipated to sign the bill next week.