Ohio Governor Backs Bill to Ban Cellphones in Schools
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is backing a new bill that would require schools to ban the use of cellphones during the school day. Senate Bill 158, introduced by State Senator Jane Timken of Jackson Township, had its first sponsor testimony this week in the Ohio Senate Education Committee. The proposed legislation goes beyond current Ohio law, which mandates that districts have a cellphone policy in place by July 1, by requiring schools to prohibit phone use entirely during school hours.
Governor DeWine emphasized the impact of constant notifications and screen time on students’ ability to focus in class, noting that simply having a phone nearby can be a major distraction. “We need to be sure that our classrooms, frankly, are now cellphone free,” he said. “Screen time is very, very addictive.”
Senator Timken framed the bill as a commonsense approach to remove distractions and encourage healthier development among students. “It will reduce those distractions and allow instructors to facilitate the building of interpersonal relationships that are so vital to human development by eliminating cellphone use in our classrooms,” she said.
A 2024 Pew Research study found that 72% of U.S. high school teachers view cellphone distraction as a major classroom issue. Data from Statista shows that students receive nearly 200 alerts per day on their phones, making it increasingly difficult for them to stay focused.
Governor DeWine cited positive feedback from parents, educators, and administrators in districts that already ban phones during school hours. He said those schools report better academic performance, fewer disciplinary issues, and stronger student socialization. “The lunchroom is noisy,” he said. “Once again, children are actually talking to each other. The result has been, I think, overwhelmingly indicating that our children in Ohio are better off with no cellphones during the day.”
Timken expressed hope that the legislation will be passed soon, potentially as an amendment to the state’s two-year budget, which the Ohio House is expected to vote on this week. If passed, the cellphone ban would go into effect by September 1.
One of the main objections to the bill involves concerns about student safety during emergencies, such as an active shooter situation. However, Dublin City School District Superintendent John Marschhausen argued that cellphone use in such scenarios can hinder safety procedures. “Looking down at their phones only slows the process,” he said, adding that students need to be fully alert and follow the emergency protocols already in place.
With bipartisan attention now focused on the classroom environment and student well-being, Senate Bill 158 may mark a significant shift in how Ohio schools manage technology during the school day.
