Vermont Lawmakers Consider Bill to Ban Cell Phones in Classrooms to Boost Student Engagement and Mental Health

State lawmakers are expected to vote soon to advance a miscellaneous education bill that would ban cell phones in the classroom. It’s part of a nationwide grassroots effort to engage students and improve their mental health. The bill would require school boards to submit a plan to the state on how they would ban phones during school hours. Rep. Michael Boutin, of Barre, sits on his local school board and says the policy has paid off in districts that have banned phones already. Some students and parents have expressed concerns about not being in communication if there was an emergency. Governor Phil Scott says he supports the measure. New York is among the states this year that rolled out a similar ban that will begin in the fall.