Gov. Whitmer signes school cell phone legislation
I break down what this all means
UPDATE: Gov. Whitmer has signed the school cell phone legislation.
What Parents Need to Know
Michigan lawmakers are advancing legislation that would limit how and when students can use cell phones during the school day. The goal, supporters say, is to reduce classroom distractions while still allowing parents and students to stay connected when it matters.
Here is a plain language breakdown of what is being proposed and how it could affect your child.
What Is Being Proposed
The legislation would require all Michigan public school districts and charter schools to adopt a policy that restricts student cell phone use during instructional time. Instructional time means when classes and lessons are actively taking place.
This is not a full ban on phones at school. Students would still be allowed to bring phones with them. The focus is on limiting use while teaching is happening.
Two bills are tied together and must both pass for the changes to take effect. One focuses on classroom phone use. The other updates school emergency and safety plans to clarify how phones can be used during emergencies.
What Students Would and Would Not Be Allowed to Do
If the legislation becomes law, schools would be required to do the following:
Students would not be allowed to use smartphones or similar wireless devices during class time.
Schools would still allow phone use outside of instructional time. This includes before school, between classes, lunch periods, and after school.
Schools would be required to clearly publish their phone policies so parents know what to expect.
There would be exceptions. Phones could still be used for medical needs, health monitoring, or emergency situations.
Basic phones that only allow calling or texting and do not access the internet may still be permitted depending on the district.
This means your child would likely keep their phone with them but would be expected to put it away during lessons.
What the Law Does Not Do
This legislation does not ban phones from school buildings.
It does not permanently take phones away from students.
It does not prevent students from contacting parents during emergencies.
It does not create one single rule for every school. Local districts still decide how the policy is enforced.
Each school district would determine whether phones are kept in lockers, backpacks, pouches, or another system during class.
Why Lawmakers Say This Is Needed
Supporters say cell phones have become a major distraction in classrooms and interfere with learning. Teachers and administrators report that phones pull attention away from lessons and make classroom management more difficult.
Lawmakers from both parties say the proposal is a compromise. It limits distractions without cutting off communication between parents and students during emergencies.
The governor has also publicly supported reducing phone use during class as a way to improve focus and learning environments.
How Emergency Situations Are Addressed
A key part of the legislation focuses on safety.
Schools would be required to include phone use guidelines in their emergency operations plans. This ensures students can still use their devices when there is a legitimate safety concern.
Lawmakers say this was added specifically to address parental concerns about being able to reach their children during emergencies.
When This Could Take Effect
If both bills pass and are signed into law, schools would be given time to prepare and update their policies.
The changes are expected to begin in the 2026 to 2027 school year, allowing districts to communicate clearly with parents and students ahead of time.
What Parents Should Pay Attention To
Your local school district will decide how the policy is enforced.
You should watch for updates from your child’s school explaining how phones will be handled during class.
If you have concerns, school board meetings and district feedback sessions are where parents can weigh in.
This legislation sets a statewide expectation but leaves the details up to local schools.
This is the first legislation I've seen in Michigan that actually makes sense. Kids don't need phones during class time. This is almost better than making them turn them into the office and have them put in hanging shoe bags to be collected enmass at the end of the day when the dismissal bell rings and kid are trying to cram into the office, get their phone, then catch a bus. I do think there needs to be consquences if the student is using the phone during class time and taking it away is one of those options for repeat offenders it would need to be turned into the teacher at the beginning of class and returned at the end. Continued offenses would be a consultation with parents and an understanding if it were seen in the classroom again it would be confiscated and the student could pick it up after detention or a parent could pick it up. There need to be steps in place, because there is always one or two who think they can get away with it and no one can take their phone away. At some point repeat offenders need to have their phones banned.
Totally opposed to this legislation. Local control should dictate this concern. Do I believe cell phones should be restricted during educational time? Absolutely (with some learning caveats). But the decision should be left to local boards of education. The decision should NOT be imposed by Lansing.