Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law on April 30 that will restrict access by public school K-12 students to smartphones and other electronic devices during school instructional hours.
The new law goes into effect for the 2025-2026 school year, meaning schools must put the new rules in place by the start of the next academic year. Those rules will need to include compliance policies, including procedures for storing devices during class and applying consequences for violations.
While the law prohibits student use of cell phones during instructional time, it also provides exceptions for students with disabilities, English language learners, and students with individual education plans.
The law also connects to school safety plans, requiring schools to ensure that emergency communication protocols remain in place even with restricted device access. The Iowa Department of Education is expected to issue guidance to support districts as they implement the new rules.
While some Iowa schools have already adopted their own cell phone policies, the bill signed into law by Gov. Reynolds creates a statewide standard.
The law aims to reduce student distractions during school, foster better student engagement, and improve academic outcomes.
“The data tells us Gen Z spends six hours per day on their phones. Seventy-two percent of high school teachers say cell phone distractions are a major problem in the classroom,” Gov. Reynolds said in a statement.
“These changes will not only improve the learning environment for students, but the social interactions they have with each other and their teachers,” the governor said.
Iowa is joining a national trend with the new student phone restrictions.
Florida passed a similar law in 2023 banning phones during class time, and other states such as Indiana and Ohio have followed with comparable measures. Some local school boards across the country are also taking action on the issue, independent of state legislatures.
