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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Proposed legislation would prohibit Tennessee students from having electronic devices in school.
House Bill 2758 (HB2758), filed by Representative Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough-District 7), would “prohibit students from displaying using, or accessing an electronic device during instructional time.”
According to the bill, school systems can authorize or provide devices to be used for instructional purposes. Local school boards and public charter school governing bodies would be required to create and adopt a policy to prohibit unauthorized devices.
Many school systems already have cell phone policies in place for students that range from students not being allowed to have them at all during school hours to having to keep them put away during instructional time.
Critics of the bill have said they do not like that the bill prohibits students from “accessing” the devices. Parents have argued that they want their students to have access to devices in the case of an emergency.
Alexander introduced the bill on January 31. It was passed by the House K-12 Subcommittee and was referred to the House Education Administration Committee to be heard in their February 28 meeting.
The companion Senate Bill 2809 (SB2809) is sponsored by Senator Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol-District 4).
