Colorado School Districts Offered $50,000 to Restrict Cell Phones

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said the grant money will largely come from funds the state received in a legal settlement with Juul.
Published: October 28, 2024

The Colorado Attorney General’s Office is offering $50,000 to school districts that establish policies restricting cell phone usage in classrooms.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced the grant money will come from a pool of funds acquired through legal settlements, including a nearly $32 million settlement reached with vape manufacturer Juul after an investigation determined the company’s marketing targeted young people and misrepresented the health risks of their products, Denver 7 reports.

“One of the challenges we have for young people is they are on their phones, on social media apps, all the time, and it’s making them feel worse. That includes in schools,” Weiser said. “We want schools to think carefully. What’s your plan? Are you allowing these phones to interfere with the learning environment? Allowing students to create drama and harm themselves and basically not be their best selves? That’s why we’re asking schools to think creatively, and we have $50,000 per school district to do better than we’re doing now.”

Mesa County Valley School District 51 Praised for Cell Phone Policy

Weiser first announced his office’s plan to enact the new program back in September, the same day he attended a roundtable discussion with leaders from Mesa County Valley School District 51. The Grand Junction-area district implemented a new phone policy this school year.

“I’m thrilled about your leadership here at District 51 not allowing these phones to undermine your learning environment and to encourage young people to develop relationships not mediated by a phone,” Weiser praised.

Under the new policy, students in K-8 are not allowed to have personal devices at school during the school day. Students in grades 9-12 are prohibited from using devices during instructional time but may use them between classes and during lunch, although it is discouraged.

“I did not get a lot of pushback from families,” said Superintendent Brian Hill. “I actually got more feedback from families saying, ‘Thank you for doing this.’ That doesn’t mean that there aren’t parents that were not happy with it.”

RELATED ARTICLE: Banning Smartphones in Schools: One Policy Does Not Fit All

A common concern expressed by skeptics of policies that restrict cell phones is parents’ inability to contact their children during an emergency.

“I think that part of the problem with banning smartphones is that students don’t really feel safe in school, and communicating with family if there ever is an issue is a part of the anxiety,” Grace Taub, a senior at Denver’s East High School, told Denver 7.

Hill said parents can get in touch with their students throughout the day by calling the school’s landline. He also argued cell phones can be counterproductive during an emergency.

“Safety and security folks do not actually want your kiddo on a phone during those moments,” Hill said. “They want the kid paying attention to the adult so they’re safe. And (phones are) a way that you spread misinformation a lot of times.”

The AG’s office expects to start distributing the grant money early next year.

——Article Continues Below——

Get the latest industry news and research delivered directly to your inbox.

What Other States or Districts Restrict Cell Phones in Schools?

Colorado joins a growing list of states that have enacted or are considering enacting cell phone restriction policies. Florida, Indiana, Louisiana and South Carolina have enacted actual legislation regarding cell phones in schools. California can be officially added to that list on July 1, 2026, which is when the Phone-Free Schools Act, signed by Governor Gavin Newson last month, will go into effect.

Although not laws, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33 which directs the state Department of Education to create guidelines for cell phones in school, and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 250 which requires districts to establish policies on cell phone use in schools.

RELATED ARTICLE: Georgia School District Tries to Reduce Cell Phone Use on Campus

This year, state boards of education for Alabama and Connecticut also unanimously voted to adopt policies encouraging districts to limit student access to cell phones during the school day. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced that by March 15, 2025, school districts and charter schools in the state will be required to have policies in place that “minimize the impact of cell phones on student behavior, mental health, and academic attainment.”

In July, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Arkansas announced they were piloting programs that offer funding to some districts to buy pouches for storing cell phones during instructional time. Also over the summer, Arizona, Texas, and Mississippi leaders announced they were considering cell phone bans or restrictions.

ADVERTISEMENT
Strategy & Planning Series
Strategy & Planning Series
Strategy & Planning Series
Strategy & Planning Series
Strategy & Planning Series