CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - This school year, Champaign Unit 4 School District implemented a new rule, limiting cell phone use at schools. Students say, they are allowed to use their phones in the hallway and at lunch, but not in the classroom.
Senior Lindsey Johnson said many of her fellow students resisted it at first, but have since adjusted to the change. She seen grades go up, and finds it easier to focus.
"They are so distracting and even if I am not on my phone, if my peer is on my phone I'm distracted because it's like, oh what are you looking at?" said Johnson. " I think it is teaching us to talk to people in the real world, communicate to adults, and understand each other with out looking at our phones."
This is exactly what Superintendent Dr. Shelia Boozer was hoping to see change with this new rule. The District implemented the change after seeing an increase in conflict and students struggling to engage with their teachers.
"Our primary goal is to support the social, emotional, and mental well-being of every unit for student," said Dr. Boozer. "We believe this approach will help Unit 4 students enhance their concentrate and reduce anxiety, and ultimately improve their overall school experience."
Now Unit 4 is the example the state is hoping other districts follow when it comes to cell phone policies. Governor J.B. Pritzker visited Centennial High School to see how the policy has changed the school and what students think about the rule.
He \is pushing for new legislation, which would require all schools to have some level of restrictions on cell phones.
"It's imperative that our state set our young people up to achieve their full potential, not just by investing in them, but by fostering a healthy and productive classroom environment," said Governor Pritzker.
The proposed legislation is modeled after several other states. It includes exclusions which allow students with developmental disabilities, those who use their devices to track medical conditions, and students who don't speak English as their first language to have more access to their phones. The restrictions also don't apply to emergency situations.
Governor Pritzker said the language on the bills is broad enough to allow districts to pick which restrictions would work best for their community.
