Bill > SB0010

This bill requires local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools in Tennessee to establish a comprehensive policy regulating students' use of wireless communication devices during school instructional time. The bill defines wireless communication devices broadly to include cellular phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices, and mandates that schools create policies that generally prohibit device usage during class, with specific exceptions. These exceptions include: allowing teachers to permit device use for educational purposes, allowing students to use devices in emergencies or to manage health conditions, and permitting device use for students with specific individualized education programs (IEPs) or 504 plans. Additionally, the bill allows teachers to withhold a student's wireless communication device if the student does not comply with the school's device policy. Schools must publish their wireless communication device policy on their websites, and the law will take effect on July 1, 2025, applying to the 2025-2026 school year and subsequent years. The goal appears to be minimizing classroom distractions while maintaining flexibility for educational and health-related device usage.

Education

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0010&ga=114