A new bill aimed at banning cell phones in public school classrooms is making progress in the North Carolina legislature. House Bill 87, which advanced in the House Education Committee Tuesday afternoon, would require all school districts to limit phone use unless a teacher incorporates them into a lesson.

Currently, policies on phones vary across the state. While Guilford County Schools and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools already have restrictions, 33% of North Carolina’s public school districts have no rules at all according to General Assembly staff.

Supporters of the bill argue that cell phones are a growing distraction in classrooms. A Pew Research study found that one in three teachers considers phones a major problem. Lawmakers also pointed to concerns over bullying, with students using devices to record and share videos of classmates without their consent. Rep. Brian Biggs (R-Randolph) emphasized how intimidating this can be for students.

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