FRANKFORT, Ky. — Phone-free classrooms could soon be reality for Kentucky school districts, as a bill addressing this subject has now passed through the State House with time left to make it across the finish line.

House Bill 208 passed through the House Tuesday unanimously. If it becomes law, it would direct school boards to create and adopt policies barring students from accessing their phones during instructional time. It also seeks to block social media sites on school internet networks.

“There’s been a lot of research done on cellphones with kids and the damage that it causes to their mental health,” said bill sponsor State Rep. Jason Bray, R-Mount Vernon. “There have been studies done that show that in school districts that implemented policies to prohibit their usage during instructional time, test score have jumped by 6% pretty immediately. And that’s most particularly among the lowest achieving students.”

Democrats voiced their support for the Republican-filled legislation, believing it will lead to better student outcomes.

“My hope is with this we’ll be able to improve our student’s behaviors in the classroom, be able to get back to learning and also make it a much safer experience for them to be there throughout the day, so thank you,” said State Rep. Anne Gay Donworth, D-Lexington.

Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, asked Bray if students would be prevented from using their devices during emergency situations.

“No, they will not," Bray replied. "There is a clear exception for in case of emergency written in the bill." 

Fern Creek High School in Louisville is one of a handful of campuses within Jefferson County Public Schools that has already adopted a phone-free policy. The district is expected to present a district-wide proposal in May, said a JCPS spokesperson.

House Bill 208 must now be acted upon by the State Senate.