Governor Kevin Stitt recently signed Senate Bill 139, a sweeping law that will ban students across Oklahoma from using any personal electronic devices — including phones, tablets, smartwatches, headphones, and smart glasses — from the first bell to the final dismissal during the entire school day, beginning in the 2025–2026 school year. This mandatory, statewide “bell-to-bell” ban leaves little room for nuance, flexibility, or local input — and that’s a serious problem.

We, the undersigned, urge lawmakers and education officials to oppose and roll back this one-size-fits-all policy before it goes into effect. While we understand concerns about distractions in the classroom, SB 139 is an overreach that threatens student well-being, limits learning opportunities, and ignores better, more effective solutions.

Why This Ban Should Be Stopped:
1. It Ignores Context and Flexibility
SB 139 mandates a full-day ban across all districts for an entire year, with no opt-out until 2026–27. Even districts already doing well with more balanced policies lose the freedom to choose what works best for their communities.

2. It Hurts Student Learning
Phones and other personal devices aren’t just distractions — they’re tools. Students use them for research, communication, collaboration, and creativity. A full-day ban means missed opportunities to integrate technology meaningfully into learning, especially during non-instructional time like lunch and study periods.

3. It Undermines Mental Health and Socialization
Phones help students stay connected to friends and family — an especially important lifeline for those dealing with anxiety, stress, or difficult home environments. Cutting off access during the full school day can worsen feelings of isolation. Plus, removing phones during lunch or breaks also cuts into students’ social freedom and autonomy.

4. It Fails to Teach Digital Responsibility
Banning phones doesn’t teach students how to use technology wisely — it just removes the opportunity to learn. Responsible tech use, digital literacy, and self-regulation are critical life skills in today’s world. Students need guidance, not just restriction.

5. It Strains Teacher-Student Relationships
Strict enforcement of a full-day ban creates unnecessary tension between students and educators. Teachers already face heavy workloads — now they’re expected to police every ring, buzz, or glance? This diverts time and energy away from real learning and mentorship.

6. It Ignores Parental Concerns
Many parents rely on phones to coordinate transportation, after-school activities, or check in during the day. Emergencies can happen at any time — not just before or after the bell. Parents deserve a say in how and when their children can be contacted.

7. It Encourages Rule-Breaking
Taking phones away during all leisure periods (like lunch or passing time) will only make students more likely to sneak or hide usage — leading to power struggles, anxiety, and disciplinary issues. It creates an adversarial environment instead of one built on trust.

8. It’s Based on Mixed Research
While some schools with bans report improvements, studies are far from conclusive. In fact, some research shows phone bans don’t significantly improve behavior, grades, or mental health — and can even make things worse if not implemented thoughtfully.

 
Support Smarter Alternatives:
Instead of an extreme, inflexible ban, Oklahoma should promote balanced policies like:

Device-free zones during instruction time only
Clear expectations for responsible use
Tech education and digital literacy programs
Opt-in “phone-free” classrooms or schools — not mandates
Partnership with parents and teachers to build supportive policies
 
Let’s make our voices heard before this harmful policy goes into effect. Tell lawmakers: students deserve better than a blanket ban. Support flexibility, responsibility, and real solutions — not rigid restrictions.

Sign this petition and share with your community. Let’s protect student rights, mental health, and modern education in Oklahoma.