Kansas students must lock up phones all day under new state law
Kansas schools have implemented a statewide cell phone ban requiring students to surrender devices, with some districts installing expensive lock-up systems that have sparked parent concerns about safety and enforcement.
The ban, enacted through HB 2299 after outgoing Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed the measure into law in March, prohibits students in grades K-12 from using cell phones during the school day. Kelly praised the legislation as a means to reduce classroom distractions, according to Chris Bradford writing in New York Post.
School districts across Kansas have been granted flexibility in how they implement the policy, leading to dramatically different enforcement approaches.
Expensive Lock-Up Systems Draw Scrutiny
The Kansas City public school district has invested $150,000 in specialized lockers designed to store student cell phones during school hours. At Wyandotte High School, viral video footage shows students depositing their phones into a cage-like structure with a glass window under supervision at 7:25 a.m. The devices remain inaccessible until the end of the school day at 2:25 p.m.
The enforcement method has triggered sharp criticism on social media. Parents and observers have questioned whether students might simply turn in broken or secondary phones while keeping their actual devices. Others raised concerns about theft, asking whether the school carries insurance to replace hundreds of phones if the entire rolling cart were stolen.
Medical concerns have also emerged, with parents questioning how students with diabetes who rely on phone alerts to monitor blood sugar levels will manage under the new rules.
Varied Enforcement Across Districts
Students at Wyandotte High do have alternatives: they can leave phones at home or secure them in their vehicles. Meanwhile, the nearby Piper Unified School District allows students to use traditional lockers they cannot access during school hours.
The Basehor-Linwood Unified School District has purchased special lockers exclusively for high school students. In the Shawnee Mission Unified School District, officials are encouraging students to leave devices at home, in lockers, or in cars.
Penalties for violations escalate quickly. A first offense results in confiscation for the entire day. Students caught breaking the ban three times face a one-day suspension.
Private Schools Also Affected
The law extends to accredited private schools throughout Kansas. At Kansas City Christian school, students can purchase a $25 pouch to store their phones if they bring them to campus.
The ban prohibits students from keeping devices in pockets or backpacks and applies to personal tablets, computers, smartwatches, wireless headphones, and text messaging devices. Exceptions exist for students requiring devices for medical reasons or as part of an educational plan. School-issued computers and devices are exempt from the restriction.
Bipartisan Support Despite Democratic Opposition
The legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, securing 32-4 approval in the state senate and 84-39 in the House of Representatives.
However, State Senator Cindy Holscher, the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate for Kansas in November, voted against the measure. She criticized the law as government overreach that bypasses local school boards while failing to address genuine mental health challenges facing students.
Democratic Representative Stephanie Clayton also opposed the ban, noting that phones represent a necessary evil for parents of teenagers who drive to school.
Republican Ty Masterson from Andover, Holscher’s opponent in the November gubernatorial election, supported the ban.
A comparable “bell to bell” prohibition has been implemented across public schools in New York, affecting nearly one million students.
With information from New York Post
