Assembly Passes Bill Banning Cell Phones in Classrooms
Republicans say ban would improve learning and mental health. Democrats call it an unnecessary attack on local control.
Riverwest Elementary School, 2765 N. Fratney St. File photo by Dave Reid.
Students at public schools across Wisconsin would be banned from using cell phones in the classroom during instructional time under a Republican bill passed in the state Assembly Wednesday.
It’s one of a series of GOP education bills that also focus on state test score standards, cursive writing and required civics education.
With a party-line vote, Republicans in the Assembly passed legislation that would require public school boards to enact policies prohibiting students from using cell phones, tablets and laptops during instructional time. The bill has exceptions that allow students to use phones for emergencies and threats, to manage their health care and for educational purposes authorized by a teacher.
Ahead of the Assembly’s vote, Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, claimed students’ mental health has declined since 2010 when cell phones and social media became more prevalent. He said while around 90 percent of Wisconsin school boards already have cell phone policies, “the problem is really enforcement.”
“So, what we really need here is a unified approach,” Kitchens said. “We are saying to the school districts that we’re standing with you on this, because everyone agrees this is a problem.”
Kitchens said cell phone bans for students are a bipartisan issue. Democratic leaders have backed the idea this year in states like New York and Illinois, and laws are already on the books in several states throughout the country.
“So, it’s time for Wisconsin to join the growing number of states that ban cell phones in the classroom and teach kids to use technology responsibly,” Kitchens said.
On the Assembly floor, Democrats criticized the bill, calling it an unfunded mandate for public schools. State Rep. Ryan Clancy, D-Milwaukee, said it’s a one-size-fits all approach that “doesn’t make sense.”
“If we were serious about addressing cell phones in schools, we would do so by listening to parents, teachers, schools and districts and the students themselves, and providing supports and funding rather than a mandate,” Clancy said.
Republicans bill rolling back state test score changes advances
GOP lawmakers also voted to change the way the state measures test scores in response to a 2024 move by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction that overhauled how student achievement is measured.
Under the DPI’s oversight, terms like “below basic,” “basic,” “proficient” and “advanced” that had been used since 2014 were replaced with “developing,” “approaching,” “meeting” and “advanced” to describe students’ skill levels on the statewide Forward Exam.
Republican lawmakers were outraged by the change and introduced a bill in early February to revert to standards used in the 2019-20 school year, which align with national standards. On the Assembly floor, Republican lawmakers accused State Superintendent of Schools Jill Underly of “dumbing down” the metrics to artificially inflate test scores in hopes of winning reelection on April 1.
“Only one elected official made that decision, and she needs to pay a price,” said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester. “Hopefully she will in April, but today, we can right her wrong. We can right her wrong by simply saying the standards are going to be on the books that no one can change.”
State Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, pushed back, accusing Republicans of pushing a “conspiracy theory ahead of the spring election.” Hong said the DPI standards were updated after a thorough process involving around 100 Wisconsin teachers.
“And to put it bluntly, as a parent, I do not trust the authors of this bill as elected officials to make the decisions about how my kid is assessed in place of those most familiar with education,” Hong said.
The test score bill passed the Assembly on a 54-44 party-line vote.
Mandating cursive writing
The Department of Public Instruction would be required to include cursive writing into English standards under another Republican bill that passed the Assembly on a party-line vote. It would require all public school boards, independent charter schools and private schools to have their students be able to write in cursive by the end of fifth grade.
Requiring schools to provide textbooks for inspecting within 14 days
Under another GOP bill, public schools in Wisconsin would be required to produce textbooks and other instructional materials to any resident within a school district within 14 days following a request. Districts would also have to publish a list of all textbooks used in classrooms on their websites.
The bill, which passed along party lines, comes after some residents have demanded that school libraries in Wisconsin ban books promoting LGBTQ+ ideas. It also follows executive orders from President Donald Trump banning federal funding going toward initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion and “gender ideology.”
US civics requirement
All schools in Wisconsin would be required to include U.S. civics education in their curriculums that promote civic pride and participation with local, state and federal government under another Republican bill passed by the Assembly.
The legislation outlines goals for students including giving them an understanding of their rights and responsibilities as U.S. residents, the founding principles of the nation and knowledge of how other political systems like communism and socialism compare with Democracy.
School boards would be required to show the Legislature how they’re complying with the civics requirement.
The civics bill passed by a vote of 52-46, with Republican state Reps. Joy Goeben, R-Hobart, and Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers, siding with Democrats in opposition.
Requiring schools to spend 70 percent of funds on ‘direct classroom expenditures’
Public schools in Wisconsin would be required to spend at least 70 percent of their operating revenues on “direct classroom expenditures” under a final GOP bill passed Wednesday. Those expenditures include teacher salaries, instructional supplies and athletic programs. If a school board doesn’t meet the requirement they’d potentially lose state funding and wouldn’t be allowed to use referendums to make up the difference.
The bill passed by a vote of 53-44, with state Rep. Lindee Rae Brill, R-Sheboygan Falls, siding with all Democrats in opposition.
GOP bill banning student cell phones in classrooms passes Wisconsin Assembly was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
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IDK. Can’t say I agree with much of anything that the Repugs put out, but AB2 is pretty short and mostly provides a common baseline, exceptions, and basic definitions with the rest left to school boards.
Clancy’s claim of local control impact seems dubious and hyperbolic.
Funding — e.g. unfunded mandate — though, is a valid line of questioning.
But I’m not sure if schools can put together a real cost as an element to negotiate in the funding space… maybe a ratio of additional Counselors per capital to monitor, etc.
Montessori grade schools already provide cursive. My niece can read and write cursive but chooses to use print. I like that cursive is not being dismissed and will allow students to read historical documents in the original. Let every school district follow the Montessori example.
However the Civics requirement and the textbook inspection requirement scream state/maga control of local school districts. These 2 items are a clear and present danger to local school district and should be opposed
It would seem the last item requiring 70% spending on direst classroom is problematic also. Again, wresting local decision making away from the community. What about upgrading buildings. I don’t trust the ambiguous wording. Way too much room for other interpretations from future dictator or judicial interpretation.