Oklahoma superintendents weigh in on new statewide cellphone restrictions in schools

As students across Oklahoma head back to class, a new state law is bringing changes to how schools handle cellphone use. Beginning this academic year, the state’s public school districts are required to regulate student cellphone use from the first bell to the last. 

SEE ALSO: Can my kid bring a phone to school in Oklahoma?

Who sees the biggest change? 

In many districts, the biggest change will be for high school students. Previously, many districts, like Tulsa Public Schools, allowed high school students to use cellphones during some non-classroom time.

TPS already had a ‘bell-to-bell’ rule in place for the 2024-25 school year.  

RELATED STORY: Tulsa Public Schools Ban Cell Phones, Wireless Devices

District leaders on cellphone use 

Even before this was signed into law, many districts were already considering stricter cell phone rules. Bixby implemented a "bell-to-bell" rule last school year, which was praised by Governor Kevin Stitt in his February State of the State address.  

"We're seeing kids interact like they should, you know, having conversations with their friends walking down the halls, talking with each other, rather than having a screen in front of them trying to catch up on their text messages," former Bixby Superintendent Rob Miller told News On 6 at the time. 

RELATED STORY: Gov. Kevin Stitt gives props to Bixby Superintendent Rob Miller for district's no phone policy

In Bartlesville, Superintendent Chuck McCauley and district leaders have been studying the topic for more than a year. McCauley also hosted book studies with the community and consulted with a student advisory board. 

"There's research that talks about girls from 2010 to 2020… the amount of self-harm in those girls has tripled," McCauley said. "There's a survey from 2023 talking about college-age students... two-thirds of them feel anxious over half the time." 

Shaping student habits 

McCauley hopes the new rule will prepare kids for life outside of school. 

"I think it teaches some bad habits," he said. "You know, if I don't like something, I can just turn that off...where in the real world, you know, if you're working with someone and maybe you don't like them, but you have to learn to work with them." 

"I'm hopeful that our kids now, uh, they can get a break," McCauley added. "We have a society of young people that have lost the ability to be present with people."