Public K-12 education; State Board of Education required to adopt model student cell phone use policy, local boards of education required to adopt cell phone use policy
The impact of HB65 on state laws is significant as it centralizes the regulation of cell phone use within public education. By mandating a model policy, the bill alleviates potential discrepancies among local education policies and establishes a standard guideline to follow. Local boards will have to conform to this model policy by the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year, ensuring a consistent approach to managing electronic device usage in classrooms throughout the state.
HB65 aims to establish a uniform policy regarding the use of cell phones and other electronic communication devices in public K-12 schools across Alabama. Under existing law, local boards of education have the authority to create their own policies concerning these devices. However, HB65 proposes that the State Board of Education must adopt a model policy that restricts the use of such devices during the school day, with specific exceptions for emergencies or individualized education programs (IEPs). Local boards will be required to craft their policies based on this overarching state policy.
Despite its intention to create uniformity, HB65 may face resistance from advocates of local control. Critics may argue that while the bill aims to provide a framework, it could hinder the autonomy of local boards to address specific needs of their communities. The exception clauses for emergencies or IEPs are likely to be debated, as stakeholders assess the effectiveness of such provisions in meeting diverse student needs. The discussions around this bill will underscore broader issues of governance and the balance between state oversight versus local educational authority.