(The Center Square) — New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte is touting the impact of the state’s new bell-to-bell cellphone ban in public schools, saying feedback from educators suggests the restrictions are reducing distractions in the classroom.
The new law, approved as part of a $15.9 billion state budget Ayotte signed in June, set a statewide “bell-to-bell” policy prohibiting cellphone use from the beginning of the school day through dismissal.
“We want every student in our state to reach their full potential in and out of the classroom, and cellphones were getting in the way of that,” Ayotte said in a statement. “I was proud to sign a bell-to-bell cellphone ban into law, giving districts the flexibility to adopt what works best for them while ensuring teachers don’t have to be the phone police.”
“We’re already hearing great feedback — classrooms are more focused, lunchrooms are lively again, and students are reconnecting with each other,” Ayotte said.
Ayotte, a first-term Republican, campaigned for a cellphone ban as part of a broader effort to address youth mental health issues and curb teens’ use of social media.
On Wednesday, the governor visited Brian S. McCarthy Middle School in Nashua, Campbell High School in Litchfield, and Bedford High School in Bedford for tours and discussions on the new policy’s impact.
“We’re already seeing the benefits of the bell-to-bell cellphone policy in our schools — a more positive, focused learning environment for teachers and students alike,” Bedford High School Superintendent Michael Fournier, said in a statement provided by the Ayotte administration.
New Hampshire is among more than two-dozen states to ban or restrict cellphones in schools as part of broader efforts to remove classroom distractions for students as concerns about their mental health mount.
Social media companies are increasingly being blamed for the rising rates of depression, suicidality and other mental health issues among youth nationally. In response, states and local governments are increasingly considering legislation and legal action to crack down on social media use.
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A 2023 Gallup study found at least 51% of American teenagers were using social media apps at least four hours a day.
“Removing the distraction of cell phones from our classrooms has been an important part of our efforts to make New Hampshire an even better place to learn,” Education Commissioner Education Caitlin Davis said in a statement. “Educator feedback shows that the bell-to-bell cell phone ban helps teachers focus on student success and support students in learning and building stronger peer relationships.”