Possible restrictions ahead for student cellphone use in Michigan schools

LANSING – A bill to impose statewide restrictions on cellphone use in schools has been reintroduced and is awaiting action in the House Education and Workforce Committee.

The chief sponsor, Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer felt it important enough to bring up the topic in her State of the State address.

“The governor understands there’s policy value here,” he said, “and with her support, this will gain positive attention and move forward.”

“Then you hope for a vote on the floor,” Tisdel said.

The bill cosponsored by Reps. Nancy DeBoer, R-Holland, and Kathy Schmaltz, R-Jackson, would mandate public and charter schools to implement cellphone policies tailored to different grade levels. 

For students in kindergarten through fifth grade, it would prohibit possession of devices on school grounds. 

Students in grades six through eight would be banned from using their phones during instructional time, breaks between classes, lunch and recess. 

For grades nine through twelve, use would be restricted only during instructional time. 

The legislation would also allow schools to impose additional restrictions if needed.

Tisdel said that Whitmer is “bright and very politically astute.” 

“I’m in Rochester Hills. Was it just a coincidence that in her [State of the State] speech was a woman’s story from Rochester Hills? If it is, that’s quite a coincidence,” he said. 

“I think she can sense that this is a winning issue, which I’ve been saying for some time now,” he said.

Michigan Education Association press secretary Thomas Morgan said allowing students to access social media and other apps on their phones while at school interrupts instructional time and social development.

The MEA is the state’s largest union of teachers and other school staff.

“Educators across Michigan overwhelmingly support locally driven restrictions for cell phone use,” Morgan said.

“We do not support statewide bans or funding mandates because every school is different,” Morgan said. “We believe that each community requires local solutions that involve frontline educators and parents in the decision-making process.”

Tisdel said that it’s “perfectly understandable” for parents to be concerned about having access to their student should there be an emergency.

“I’m a father. I’m a grandfather. I get that. That would be particularly anguishing if you knew there was an emergency over at your school and you couldn’t talk to your child,” he said.

“But if you step back and think about it, how is your child’s safety enhanced by having them talk to you, perhaps miles away from the emergency scene, instead of focused on the trained adult that’s ahead of their classroom,” Tisdel said.

“You certainly don’t want students calling their parents, and then hundreds of parents showing up at the school in their cars while first responders are trying to get there,” he said.


Tisdel cited Avondale Schools in Auburn Hills as an example of a successful cellphone prohibition. 

“They had a complete prohibition on phones in middle school last year,” he said. “It was so successful they’ve expanded it, with some variations, to their high school this year,” he said.

“They said they saw fewer disciplinary problems, fewer referrals to counselors or school psychologists, improved concentration, improved involvement in the classroom, better grades, fewer fights and fewer disruptions,” Tisdel said.

“If you are going to improve your academic standings, the reduction or elimination of those distractions are exactly what students need,” Tisdel said

Morgan said it is important to allow exceptions for students with medical and special needs or who need the devices for assistive technology.

Midland Public Schools, Ludington Area Schools, Leland Public School and the Lansing School District are among other districts where cellphone restrictions already exist in the student handbook. 

“You’ve got 830-plus school districts in the state,” Tisdel said, “If you wait for everyone to act on this, it could be a very long wait.”

“I understand the desire to be able to contact your child immediately, but that is not in the best interest of your child,” he said.