Missoula Responds to the Governor’s Call for Cell Phone Free Schools

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Montana Governor Greg Gianforte sent a letter on Thursday to all Montana school superintendents and trustees asking them to “consider creating cell-phone-free schools”.

Gianforte referenced a 2023 report from Common Sense Media that “97 percent of 11- to 17-year-olds use their cell phone during school, including to text, access social media, play games, and watch videos. They receive an average of more than 50 notifications per day on their phones during school hours. Unfortunately, cell phones distract students and disrupt the learning environment, and according to studies, it leads to learning loss and lower grades.”

Governor Asks Public Schools to Become Cell Phone-Free

The Governor’s letter also stated: “Studies and data point to the urgent need to act. Since the advent of cell phones over 20 years ago, students’ use of these devices, including in schools, has increased. In 2021 nearly 9 out of 10 teenagers and 43 percent of 8 to 12-year-olds own a smartphone. 90 percent of 11-17 year-olds use their cell phone during school, including to text, access social media, play games, and watch videos.”

Governor Gianforte’s office provided this statement about what steps can be taken to lessen cell phone usage in public schools from the Montana School Boards Association:

“The governor's request that school superintendents and trustees consider enacting policies to establish cell phone-free education is the start of a conversation about how to create distraction-free learning and protect the mental health of our students. While each school may adopt a different policy given feedback from parents and school officials, organizations like the MTSBA already have model policy that schools can use. The governor looks forward to visiting schools this fall to hear from parents, teachers, and students about the importance of creating a distraction-free learning environment.”

Find the MTSBA statement here.

The Official MCPS Policy on Cell Phones is on Their Website

The official MCPS policy on cell phone use is stated clearly on their website:

“Cell phones are to be turned off` and out of sight during class time unless authorized by the teacher. Class time includes release time for senior study hall, activities, and time out of class on a hall pass. Students may only use cell phones before school begins, during passing periods, during the lunch period, and after the last class period is complete. Staff will confiscate any cell phone that is being used or visible/heard during unauthorized times. Refusal to hand over cell phone to staff constitutes insubordination and may result in ISS (in-school suspension) or OSS (out of school suspension). Confiscated phones will be returned to parent/guardian.”

READ MORE: Will Missoula Schools Ban the Use of Cell Phones Soon?

Superintendent Hill Said a Cell Phone Ban Would Be Difficult

MCPS Superintendent Micah Hill told me this spring that an outright cell phone ban would be difficult, due to the many exceptions that would have to be made for medical and other issues.

Read the Governor’s letter to school superintendents and school board trustees here.