- Target:
- High school students are capable of responsibility and should be treated as such.
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- www.legis.la.gov
Louisiana’s current school phone policy, established under Act 313 (2024), requires students to keep phones turned off and stored away for the entire instructional day. While this law was intended to reduce distractions, there is no publicly available evidence showing that it has led to measurable academic improvement in Louisiana schools.
At the same time, the policy applies equally to all students, including high schoolers who are at an age where they should be developing responsibility, self-discipline, and real-world decision-making skills. A complete ban removes the opportunity to practice these skills and replaces responsibility with restriction.
The policy also limits communication during the school day and may create unnecessary delays in situations where students need to quickly contact someone. Although exceptions exist for certain cases, they do not apply to most students.
Additionally, enforcement of the policy varies between schools, which can lead to inconsistency and unfair discipline. Students may face consequences simply for having a phone, even if it is not being used.
Because there is no clear evidence of academic benefit and the policy creates multiple practical concerns, it is reasonable to reconsider whether a full-day ban is the best approach. A more balanced policy—one that allows responsible, limited phone access for high school students while maintaining focus during class—would better reflect real-world expectations and student needs.
We, the undersigned, call on the Louisiana State Legislature and the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to revise Act 313 (2024) and end the full-day ban on student phone possession during the instructional day.
High school students are at a stage where they must learn responsibility, self-discipline, and real-world decision-making. A complete phone ban removes the opportunity to develop these skills and instead replaces responsibility with restriction.
We urge the adoption of a more balanced policy that allows responsible, limited phone access for high school students—particularly during non-instructional times—while maintaining appropriate boundaries during class.
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