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Bill

SB 302

Requiring school districts to prohibit the use of personal electronic communication devices during instructional time and prohibiting any employee of a school district from using social media to directly communicate with any student for official school purposes.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Larry Alley and 22 co-sponsors

Kansas school districts must ban personal devices during class and prohibit employees from contacting students via social media for official purposes.

Died in Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 302

Legislative bill overview

SB 302 mandates that Kansas school districts ban personal electronic devices during instructional time and prohibit school employees from using social media to communicate directly with students for official school purposes. The bill aims to reduce classroom distractions and establish guardrails around teacher-student digital communication.

Why is this important

Classroom device usage significantly affects student attention and academic performance according to educational research. The social media restriction addresses legitimate concerns about appropriate professional boundaries and student safety in digital communications, while raising questions about how schools coordinate with families online.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation challenges: "Instructional time" definitions may be ambiguous (does this include passing periods, lunch, study halls?), creating enforcement inconsistencies across districts
  • Emergency communication gaps: Restricting all personal devices could complicate parent emergency notifications or students reaching family during crises
  • Social media communication necessity: Schools increasingly use platforms like Facebook and Instagram for official announcements; the bill's scope on "official school purposes" may be unclear and overly restrictive
  • Equity concerns: Students without personal devices won't be disadvantaged, but the ban's effectiveness depends on consistent enforcement that may vary by school resources
  • Teacher professional judgment: Limiting educator discretion about appropriate tech use during lessons could reduce instructional flexibility

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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