TALLHASEE- Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1105 into law on May 30, which contained multiple bills related to education in the state.

One of the bills in the package includes a ban on cell phone use for elementary and middle school students in Florida, as well as limits for high schoolers phone use during instruction time

Th law states that elementary and middle school students may not use any cell phone device during the school day, while high school students would only be permitted to use cell phones outside of instructional time, except when permitted by a teacher for academic uses.

The bill not only provides statewide restrictions on student cell phone use but will also create a pilot program to explore full-scale cell phone bans in high schools at the direction of the Florida Department of Education in six school districts.

In recent years, Okeechobee County Schools rules stated that a student may possess a wireless communications device while they are on school property or in attendance at a school function; however, a student may not use a wireless communications device during instructional time, except when expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes.

This law expands on that for elementary and middle school students. However, there are exceptions for students with medical or educational needs.

Other bills in the package signed by the governor include a bill that benefits charter schools in Florida by making it easier to convert public schools into charter ones and requires charter schools to get a percentage of sales tax money.

Students in marching bands will also be allowed to get physical education or performing arts credit for the activity in a new bill in the package.