Mississippi lawmakers advance bills that would restrict cellphone use in schools
Mississippi lawmakers advanced legislation that would require local school boards to restrict or prohibit students from using cellphones during the school day, as supporters said the issue is tied to teen mental health, distraction, and classroom engagement. The measure drew attention during committee work this month, with a House panel passing a bill that would mandate cellphone limits at the local level and a Senate committee also clearing a similar proposal.
Rep. Sam Creekmore, a Republican from New Albany, told the House Education Committee that similar cellphone bills had failed before, but said he expected the legislature could pass the policy this year because lawmakers in both chambers have prioritized it. Creekmore also said he was concerned about the amount of time students spend on their phones and about how that use affects their mental health, saying, “You just can’t ignore that,” according to the report.
The proposals reflect a broader national push tied to youth mental health, including increased attention to the role of smartphones and social media. The report said research has linked cellphone and social media use among school-aged children to negative mental health outcomes and instances of cyberbullying. It also said at least 33 states and the District of Columbia require school districts to ban or restrict students from using cellphones in schools, citing Education Week, and noted that a similar Mississippi measure died in the prior session even though Mississippi’s youth mental health task force recommended cellphone and social media limits in classrooms.
Supporters pointed to policies already adopted in Mississippi districts as proof that cellphone limits can be implemented in practice. Creekmore cited Marshall County School District near his district, describing a policy adopted in 2024 in Holly Springs. Under that approach, students store their phones in lockable pouches when arriving at school, blocking access during class, and the report said 88% of teachers in Marshall County schools saw an improvement in student engagement, citing the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.
The report also described changes in Jackson Public Schools, which established a stricter policy during the past school year. Jackson Public Schools’ spokesman Sherwin Johnson said teachers reported improved classroom management, better transitions between classes, and more meaningful teacher-student interactions across schools, and he added that teachers said students were less distracted and more engaged, with fewer discipline infractions tied to cellphone misuse. In an emailed statement, Johnson said the policy was “not about eliminating technology, but about establishing appropriate boundaries that prioritize learning,” adding that “By creating structured, distraction-free environments, we are reinforcing a culture of accountability, respect, and academic focus that keeps classrooms focused on instruction, collaboration, and scholar success.”
The report described remaining debate around what cellphone bans or restrictions should account for, especially during emergencies. It said some parents initially pushed back during community listening sessions about the cellphone policy, citing anxiety about losing contact with students in an emergency. The report also said a Pew Research Center survey found most adults support cellphone bans in middle and high school classes, while those who do not cite the ability for their child to use the phone during emergencies.
In Florida, where the report said a statewide cellphone restriction began in 2023, an economics study found changes after the policy rollout. The report said the study found that student test scores rose in schools with previously high cellphone usage two years after the ban and that attendance improved, while an initial increase in disciplinary incidents was likely tied to cellphone infractions during the transitional year. David Figlio, an economics professor at the University of Rochester and an author of the study, said the initial transition reflected that “The school district permitted them to have phones in their backpacks or pocket, so it stands to reason that when there’s a temptation nearby, people might succumb to that temptation,” and added, “When my phone is buzzing, even when I’m teaching, I feel this visceral need to check it out. Imagine you’re 14.”
Brigette Whaley, a professor at West Texas A&M University and a former middle school teacher, has studied classroom cellphone policies in several states, the report said. In Texas during the 2024-25 school year, she said, a bell-to-bell phone-free policy at a rural high school produced more engagement, less “drama” among students, and less student anxiety and cyberbullying. Whaley said teachers were “definitely excited about building those relationships and community in their classrooms again,” and she urged parents to trust schools to contact students through administrative offices, saying, “School is a place that should be safe and is for learning,” and noting that students need “the opportunity to spread their wings a little bit.”
While the Mississippi bill language would leave implementation to local school boards, supporters said the overall direction mirrors a wider policy trend driven by classroom experience and research. Whaley said she expects research to track additional benefits, including reduced violence at schools, as students re-engage in classrooms and rebuild face-to-face relationships.