North DakotaNorth Dakota schools keep student devices out of reach during instructional time
North Dakota schools must keep students’ personal devices out of reach during instructional time, with exceptions for medical needs and required education plans.
What it does
During instructional time, North Dakota schools must keep students’ personal communication devices silenced or turned off, securely stored, and out of reach. Medical needs and requirements in a student’s education or accommodation plan are exceptions.
School districts must collect yearly data on student behavior, mental health, discipline, attendance, and academic performance to measure the impact of their device policies.
Once a district adopts and puts its device policy in place, it must share the policy with students and families and publish it in student and staff handbooks.
Argument forKeeping personal devices out of reach during instructional time could reduce distractions, while schools can set access rules for supervised activities outside that time.
Argument againstStudents may have less immediate access to their own devices during the day, so reaching family may depend on a school phone.
More detail
School districts or governing bodies must adopt and enforce policies that keep students’ personal communication devices silenced or turned off, securely stored, and inaccessible during instructional time. Instructional time runs from the start of the school day until dismissal on school grounds. It includes learning activities, recess, lunch, and time between classes, but excludes travel to offsite learning and virtual instruction off school grounds. A school may not prohibit a device if a licensed medical provider determines it is needed for the student’s health or well-being, or if the student’s education or accommodation plan requires it. A student may contact a parent or authorized caregiver during the school day using a school phone made available where and how the school designates. The policy applies during instructional time, from the start of the school day until dismissal on school grounds.
School districts must collect data each year to measure the impact of their device policies on student outcomes. Each school district collects the data about its policy and the listed student outcomes. The data collection goal covers student behavior, mental health, discipline, attendance, and academic performance. By July 1, 2026, the state superintendent must establish a shared system for districts to report the required data.
After adopting and putting a policy in place, a school district must tell students, parents, and authorized caregivers about it and publish it in student and personnel handbooks. These duties apply to school districts that adopt and implement a policy under this section. The district must communicate and publish the policy upon adopting and implementing it.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jun 11Filed with Secretary Of State 05/02Latest
- May 2Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong 05/02Became Law
- May 2Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- May 2Signed by President
- May 1Signed by Speaker
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2354. Result: pass.Lower
- May 1Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 73 nays 17Major
- May 1Conference committee report adopted
- Apr 29Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendarMinor
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2354. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 29Second reading, passed, yeas 45 nays 2Major
- Apr 29Conference committee report adopted
- Apr 29Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendarMinor
- Apr 17Conference committee appointed Jonas Novak Osowski
- Apr 15Conference committee appointed Axtman Wobbema Lemm
- Apr 15Refused to concur
- Apr 8Returned to Senate (12)
- Apr 7Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 61 nays 29Passed House
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2354. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 3Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Apr 2Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 13 1 0Minor
- Mar 26Committee Hearing 09:00
- Feb 21Introduced, first reading, referred Education CommitteeMinor
- Feb 20Received from Senate
- Feb 19Second reading, passed, yeas 47 nays 0Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2354. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Feb 18Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 14 0 2Minor
- Feb 12Rereferred to Appropriations
- Feb 12Amendment adopted
- Feb 11Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 6 0 0Minor
- Feb 10Committee Hearing 09:00
- Jan 24Introduced, first reading, referred Education CommitteeIntroduced
EducationTechnology