Colorado Children's Campaign pushes bill for school cell phone policies to protect youth mental health

The House Education Committee of the Colorado Legislature convened on February 19, 2025, to discuss critical issues surrounding student mental health and the impact of technology in schools. The meeting featured testimonies from various stakeholders, including representatives from the Colorado Children's Campaign and the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB).

The session began with a presentation from the director of K-12 education at the Colorado Children's Campaign, who emphasized the urgent need to address youth mental health, citing alarming statistics about social media usage among adolescents. The speaker noted that nearly one in three teenagers report near-constant engagement with social media, which has been linked to increased anxiety, depression, and other negative mental health outcomes. The American Academy of Pediatrics has declared youth mental health a national emergency, attributing it partly to excessive smartphone use.

The proposed legislation aims to require schools to establish clear policies regarding student cell phone use during school hours. The director argued that such policies could help minimize distractions, improve student focus, and enhance overall academic performance. Importantly, the bill allows schools the flexibility to tailor their policies to fit their unique communities while ensuring accommodations for students with disabilities.

Following this, Representative Garcia Sander raised questions regarding the fiscal implications of the bill, specifically about the Department of Education's responsibilities in providing resources to assist schools in developing their policies. The response indicated that the department already has a foundation of research and resources available, and any additional workload would be minimal.

Matt Cook, representing CASB, expressed support for the bill while highlighting the importance of local control in policy-making. He acknowledged that while the bill provides a framework, it allows school boards the autonomy to create policies that reflect their community values. Cook emphasized that each of Colorado's 178 school districts is unique and best positioned to address the needs of their students.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the flexibility offered by the proposed legislation and the existing policies many school boards have already implemented regarding electronic communication devices. The committee members expressed appreciation for the collaborative efforts in crafting the bill, which aims to enhance student well-being while respecting local governance.

Overall, the meeting underscored the critical intersection of technology use and mental health in educational settings, with a strong emphasis on the need for structured policies to support student engagement and well-being. The committee's next steps will involve further deliberation on the proposed legislation and its implications for schools across Colorado.