Back-to-school season is in full swing! As we usher in a new academic year, parents and educators are gearing up for what this season may have in store for their students. Unfortunately, one of the most significant challenges students will face this year is in their own back pockets. With the increased use of technology and social media, it's becoming increasingly evident that cell phone use in school must be addressed to protect future generations.

 At their very best, cell phones are a simple distraction for students during school hours. At their worst, they expose young people to inappropriate content or make them vulnerable to cyberbullying. Any parent, teacher, or administrator can tell you that cell phones are the leading distraction and source of anxiety for students at school. Yet, there’s a gap in data on the real-life effects of cell phone usage in classrooms, creating barriers for schools to create comprehensive policies that protect students. 

 That’s why I’m leading the Focus on Learning Act, bicameral legislation that has garnered support from both sides of the aisle. It would direct a nationwide pilot program that provides students with secure containers to store cell phones during school hours and require a study on the impacts of cell phones on students’ mental health and academic performance. The bill's purpose is to collect the proper data that local schools need to make informed decisions about allowing cell phones in their classrooms and take the necessary steps to cultivate the best learning environments possible. 

With Senator Tom Cotton championing this effort in the Senate and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders leading a similar initiative at the state level, Arkansas is once again leading on a nationwide issue. Our state's proactive stance on this issue should inspire confidence in our ability to set our students up for future success in the classroom.