(The Center Square) – Governor Greg Gianforte wants to ban cell phones in Montana schools.

In a letter to school superintendents and school board members, Gianforte wrote about limiting distractions from learning and improving academic performance. He believes these goals can be achieved by eliminating cell phones in schools.

“Students should focus on learning,” the governor said. “Unfortunately, cell phones distract students and disrupt the learning environment. Studies show that this leads to learning loss and lower grades.”

Citing studies on cell phone use, Gianforte wrote that nearly nine in 10 teens own a smartphone. Among 8- to 12-year-olds, that figure is 43 percent, and nearly all (97 percent) of 11- to 17-year-olds use cell phones during school hours for non-school-related purposes such as texting, gaming, accessing social media and watching videos.

“When I speak with educators and parents across our state, they often tell me about the negative impacts of cell phones on the learning environment,” the governor said. “Nationally and in Montana, we are seeing declining academic performance and increasing rates of mental health disorders, from anxiety and depression to eating disorders, among young people.”

Because of these and other points, the governor wrote that it would be in the best interests of “the education and health of our students” if all schools in Montana adopted a cell phone-free policy.

Some school districts in Montana have already implemented such measures, but Gianforte’s letter is the first attempt by a Montana state official to push for such a policy for all schools.

The governor informed educators that his office will assist any schools that need help and that the governor’s office will work with education leaders and health officials to implement the guidelines. The governor also promised to follow up with educators to “see how the development and implementation of the guidelines is progressing.”