FRANKFORT, Ky. — Earlier this month, the House Education Committee unanimously passed House Bill 383, requiring Kentucky school districts to forbid students using cellphones during class time. 

Like many teenagers, Josiah Castenir has a smartphone. 

He said if he or his classmates use their phones during instructional time, the teacher may take it until class finishes. 

“I currently have two classes [where] I have to put my phone actively away, but we can get them out once our work is finished,” Castenir said. 

The Central Hardin High School sophomore spends this time talking to friends, playing games on his phone or scrolling through social media. But soon, this may change, as HB383 would prohibit the use of cellphones during class time with exceptions.  

Bullitt County Public Schools Superintendent Jesse Bacon said instead of banning phones, he would like to see students learn how to appropriately use them. 

“[It] definitely needs to be a balance in how we utilize [phones] in [a] school setting," Bacon said. "But I think more than anything, we need to educate students on how we can utilize those for good.”

Though many teachers may be OK with the ban, it could be challenging to enforce, he added. 

“We had teachers that allow students to utilize them for instructional purposes in real, true and meaningful ways," he said. 

Castenir said he thinks this would help more students pay attention

“Banning phones would help be helpful for instruction because it would limit distractions in the classroom," he said. 

HB383 is sitting in the rules committee for a second reading. It includes exceptions for emergencies, directed educational purposes and students with disabilities.