The Blue-Ribbon Task Force held its final meeting to review and approve their report on cell phone use in schools. Task force leaders and the Kansas Department of Health and Education (KSD) staff presented an overview of the final draft, addressing member comments and explaining which suggestions were incorporated. Members discussed and voted on adding specific academic research citations related to cell phone use, as many felt this information was essential for school-based recommendations.

The report includes sections on task force creation, research on personal devices and mental health, and definitions, followed by the task force’s recommendations. The report was presented to the state board on Tuesday, November 12 with a final vote expected in December. If adopted, the report will provide Kansas schools with policy recommendations to guide decisions on personal devices in schools.