Goodbye to cell phones in schools: This is the map of states that have bans on school grounds

In recent years cell phones have become an increasingly serious problem in schools in the United States. In response, a number of states have sought to crack down on their usage.

Last year a study from the Pew Research Center found that 72% of high school teachers said that phone distractions are a major problem.

There are now 17 states in the US that have active laws or executive orders banning or restricting the use of cell phones in schools. Those states are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

In addition to those states with bans and restrictions, there are three more with pilot and grant programs in place to limit school phone usage. There are a further seven with state-mandated guidelines on phone usage. A map of those states has been made available on Newsweek.

The latest state to join that list is Texas, which officially passed phone-free learning rules into law earlier this month. On August 1 Governor Greg Abbott ceremonially signed Senate Bill 2420 and House Bill 1481, an effort that is hoped to improve classroom environments and protect online privacy.

“Educators and researchers have raised concerns about the impact that smartphones have on student learning and student engagement,” said Governor Abbott.

“Experts have explained that smartphones and social media affect the mental health of children. If we are going to be number one in education, it is going to require the undivided attention of our students in the classroom.”

Other states are expected to follow suit in the near future with similar restrictions on how students can use their phones in class and around the school. While most experts agree that high school-aged children can benefit from having a phone - both for information and safety reasons - but there are clear and obvious dangers too.

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