MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — Governor Tony Evers signs a bill into law that will ban cellphone use in the classroom.
The law requires Wisconsin public school boards to adopt policies by July 1st of next year that generally prohibit students from using cellphones during school. Evers says he believes these types of decisions should be made at the local level but is concerned about the impacts cell phones and social media are having on kids and their mental health, school outcomes and how they engage with others.
School boards may provide exemptions in the event of an emergency or threat or to manage a student’s healthcare. The bill was passed with bipartisan support.
A recent report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum showed most Wisconsin school districts already restrict cellphone use.