Cell Phones

Students, teachers and administrators are learning to adapt this school year after Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed legislation in July that restricted the use of electronic personal devices during the school day.

Currently, Collinsville High School students may use devices in the classroom for educational purposes with teacher permission, during passing periods, before school and at lunch.

This year, students in Edwardsville must keep their phones “out of sight” during the regular school day.

The bill requires school districts to develop a written policy on cellphone use in schools. That policy must be in place for the 2026-27 school year.

At least nine other states have adopted statewide policies limiting or banning the use of cell phones in schools. Elsewhere, even in the absence of a statewide policy, individual districts have begun acting on their own.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has backed proposed legislation that would ban cellphones in classrooms, with some exceptions. What’s the policy in your local school district?

The legislation requires school districts to develop cellphone use policies, including restricting them during instruction.

The STLPR mobile app relaunches this week with sleek new features to make browsing faster and easier for smartphone users.

Under a law that takes effect today, Missouri drivers who are using an electronic device while driving and committing another traffic violation could be fined.

When should parents give children their first cellphone or smartphone? What factors should be considered? How do maturity, development and sleep…