Florida's K-8 cell phone ban in schools draws mixed reactions from parents concerned about safety, distractions, and staying connected during the school day.

Florida

Florida has enacted a new policy prohibiting cell phone use for students in kindergarten through eighth grade during school hours. The law requires students to keep their phones out of sight from the moment they enter school grounds until the end of the school day. High school students are permitted to use their phones only during non-instructional times, such as passing periods, before and after school, and during lunch, unless a teacher allows otherwise.

Parents have expressed mixed feelings about the ban, citing both the benefits of reduced distractions and concerns over student safety and communication. Some exceptions to the policy exist for students with medical needs or disabilities, allowing them to use their phones for health reasons or to contact parents. Enforcement of the policy is managed by individual school districts.

Parents weigh in on Florida’s new cell phone ban for K-8 students

New school year does come with a new cell phone policy. Parents, if you have kids in grades kindergarten through eighth grade, this will impact your student. A B. C. Actually, as a reporter, an echo tier is listening to what parents and kids think about the change. It's basically a bell to bell ban for elementary and middle school students. The change is that there are no cell phones allowed in the classroom during school hours, and now parents and kids are sounding off. Students, when you hear this bell, that means it's time to put the phone away for the time that they walk onto school grounds. Cell phones had to be put away elementary and middle. That's kind of a big change. They have to be out of sight all the time. School district leaders trying to get the word out of a new law passed this year to enhance learning in the classrooms. In our classrooms, the real magic happens when we disconnect from distractions. The law prohibits the use of cell phones and wireless devices for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. High school students are allowed to use phones, but only during passing periods before and after school and during lunch. It's not allowed during class unless the teacher says so. I think that you will see a significant decrease in bullying, which we saw in Orange County public school system and a significant increase in student focus and attention during the day. We went out to hear the voices of parents on this, and many are on the fence. I grew up in a time where we didn't have cell phones. Um, so I'm I'm agree with that because of the distraction that creates. But it's also a scary time in the school system. And, you know, you have as a parent, you have that peace of mind, like knowing that you can communicate with your kid at any time. I understand, you know, with them being on the social media while they're in school and that distraction, but just mostly just a safety concern. But when listening to the kids, they were also in agreement. It's nice that they're making sure that kids are on their phone while we're learning. Um, but it's also, um, you also need phone to collect with your parents if you're in trouble or lost. This restriction generally applies to teachers as well, except for emergencies and when not actively supervising students. But enforcement is up to the district. Now, there are some exceptions for students as well. Those students who have medical needs or disabilities are able to check their phone for their health and also to message their parents. But for now, reporting in Tampa, Annette Gutierrez, ABC Action News.

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Breakdown