According to Oklahoma’s report card for the 2023-24 school year, reading scores for 8th graders fell 46% below the national average.

This, among a variety of other factors, has led the Senate Education Committee to pass a bill that could prevent students from utilizing their cell phones throughout the school day.

Senator Ally Seifried, a Representative from Claremore, crafted Senate Bill 139 that requires Oklahoma schools to implement policies regarding phone usage during the school day, as well as disciplinary guidelines for those who do not comply with their school’s cell phone policy.

The Committee heard a study conducted by Senator Adam Pugh, a Representative from Edmond, and Seifried in October of 2024 and decided that limiting phone use could decrease the adverse effects caused by social media and excessive cellphone usage.

However, some believe a ban on phone usage in schools could negatively impact some students.

“My phone and my Chromebook helped me a lot when I started learning English,” said junior Ariana Barrios, an Edmond North student whose native language is Colombian Spanish.

She uses a translator app on her phone and tools on her Chromebook to navigate her day-to-day life in an English-speaking school.

“I use them a lot, (to) help me understand what to do or (to) know the subject.”

Edmond North’s Computer Applications teacher, Eden Moore, stresses the importance of rural students’ access to computers to better understand how to navigate our modern world.

“Technology is not going away. All students need to learn how to use computers. Technology will change, so students must learn how to learn and adapt to new technologies in the world.”

Some students in metro areas learn how to utilize technology during school. Edmond Public Schools uses one-to-one technology, allowing students to learn computer programs required for classwork and homework.

However, home internet does not work the same in rural areas. Many rural students do not have online access to complete coursework from home as suburban students do, and phones serve as an alternative.

Senior Syuri Wolfe from Lookeba-Sickles High School (LSHS) believes that other rural districts would benefit from having devices in the classroom. LSHS has Chromebooks for each classroom that the students can access during class time for school work.

“It would give people a way to communicate, research, and react with peers,” explains Wolfe.

Is this the best use of funds? 

Seifried’s bill states, “Subject to the availability of funding, not more than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) shall be made available to middle schools and high schools to purchase devices or equipment in which students…can store their cell phones during the day.”

Currently, the United States Census Bureau reports that Oklahoma spends about $10,890 per-pupil—$4,743 short of the national average for per-pupil spending. Studies show that increasing per-pupil spending can positively impact student performance and increase 8th grade reading scores.

Now, Seifried’s bill is up for consideration by the full Senate.