Utah to require schools to have policies on cellphone use

Utah to require schools to have policies on cellphone use

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah public schools will be required to establish policies and provide training to teachers, students and parents on use at schools of privately owned cellphones and other electronic devices.

The rule change approved Friday by the state Board of Education prompted a state legislator to say she’d drop her similar proposal.

Educators, parents and lawmakers said during a legislative hearing that students are accessing pornography on their cellphones or tablets at school or spending time watching videos or texting when they should be doing school work.

Others said parents’ communication with students frequently disrupts classes.

Board member Scott Neilson, a high school teacher, said there are inconsistent policies between classrooms.