MO lawmakers support effort to limit school tech use

Tricia Byrnes: Print materials will help students learn.

Less than a year after a ban on cellphones in Missouri public schools was signed into law, an effort to significantly restrict screen time in elementary school buildings has cleared a legislative hurdle.

The Missouri House voted 143-10 to approve a proposal that requires school boards to create a policy limiting technology use at the elementary level in favor of printed materials, cursive writing, and face-to-face instruction.

In filing House Bill 2230, state Rep. Tricia Byrnes, R-Wentzville, sought to cap elementary students’ screen time at 45 minutes per school day. However, that cap was removed during the legislative process.

“Our entire effort has really changed. So, when I first filed this bill, there was zero interest in this conversation,” Byrnes said in an interview with the Springfield Business Journal. “That original bill was filed in order to draw attention to this problem.”

Byrnes said the version approved March 30 by the House requires districts to set a policy that limits elementary students’ screen time during school and access to district-issued technology outside of the school day. It does not dictate a specific time limit on usage.

“It puts it at the hands of the school board to signal that we’re going in the direction of traditional education, and that screen time is not improving education,” she said. “It is leading to lower scores and literacy problems with behavior and social isolation.”

She said national research indicates excessive screen time is detrimental to child development. A 2020 report by the American College of Pediatricians found extensive exposure to screens, especially in young ages, is associated with lower academic performance, increased rates of high-risk behavior and health risks.

If supported in the Missouri Senate and signed into law, the Student Screen-Time Standards Act will require districts to pass and enact a policy by the end of the 2027-28 year. The policy must place limits on instructional technology for K-5 students and prioritize hands-on learning and traditional materials including printed books, workbooks and handwriting.

The policies must create a process for a parent to obtain details about their child’s screen time and further limit or eliminate access to instructional technology.

However, the limits will not apply to students enrolled in virtual learning programs.

The legislation also requires the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish a stakeholder council to gather and analyze data on technology use in public schools and its impact on student learning and behavior.

The council must be made up of school board members, educators, health care professionals and a parent advocate. An initial report, including a model policy option for districts, would be due by July 1, 2027.

Byron Keelin, president of the Freedom Principle, testified in support of the bill in February, arguing hands-on, print options help students grow as readers and thinkers.

“This also helps every child, no matter their family situation. Not everyone has tablets or fast internet at home, so leaning too hard on tech can leave some kids behind. Print books and simple classroom activities work for all,” Keelin said, in the testimony. “This bill isn’t about being afraid of technology, it’s about making sure we don’t lose what makes reading so powerful for our children.”

Much of the opposition to the bill surrounded the 45-minute cap, which was removed. Those who testified against it also argued it undermines local control, creates an unfunded mandate and delays access to learning technology skills that will be needed to navigate life and many workplaces.

Several parents testified that elementary students in gifted programs often rely on technology resources, which provide access to more challenging materials, and limiting access could be detrimental.

“I oppose this because politicians aren’t education experts, so they shouldn’t be micromanaging our classrooms or instructional tools,” said Emily Conley, who testified on behalf of educators and families during a Feb. 4 hearing. “Concerns about technology use are valid, but this removes the flexibility that teachers need to meet the needs of all students in their classroom in any given day or lesson plan.”

Byrnes said she hopes the policies will lead to lasting changes and improved outcomes for students.

“Learning on iPads and Chromebooks has never been proven to increase educational scores, and it is bad for literacy,” she said. “We need handwriting. We need real books in order to retain and learn the basics.”

Byrnes said support for limiting cellphones in school, a move she sought in the past, helped her proposal during this legislative session.

“We saw this potential for backlash, and what it turned out to be is the schools completely embraced it,” she said, referring to the cellphone ban. “I think that also reduced some of the fear of the bill.”