Read the full stored bill text
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1703
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CARTER.
7305S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
AN ACT
To amend chapters 160 and 186, RSMo, by adding thereto three new sections relating to
instructional methods in schools.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapters 160 and 186, RSMo, are amended by 1
adding thereto three new sections, to be known as sections 2
160.068, 186.085, and 186.095, to read as follows:3
160.068. 1. This section shall be known and may be 1
cited as the "Student Screen-Time Standards Act". 2
2. As used in this section, the following terms mean: 3
(1) "Instructional technology", a laptop, tablet, 4
computer, Chromebook, smart device, software platform, or 5
other similar device or platform used for student learning; 6
(2) "Manipulatives", hands-on physical learning items 7
including, but not limited to, blocks, counters, cubes, 8
rulers, cards, science materials, and similar educational 9
tools; 10
(3) "Traditional materials", printed books, paper- 11
based workbooks, notebooks, handwriting materials, and 12
physical educational resources. 13
3. For elementary school students in kindergarten 14
through grade five, each school district and charter school, 15
but not any virtual school, shall adopt a written screen 16
time and instructional technology policy consistent with 17
SB 1703 2
this section to promote the educational interests of 18
students, prevent the harmful effects of screen time on 19
child development, ensure that technology supports rather 20
than supplants foundational learning, and restore evidence- 21
based practices. The screen time and instructional 22
technology policy shall establish the following: 23
(1) Limits and restrictions on student screen time and 24
student use of instructional technology during the school 25
day; 26
(2) Limits and restrictions on school district- or 27
charter school-issued devices or school district or charter 28
school educational technology being used outside the school 29
day; 30
(3) Limits and restrictions on student access to 31
internet-connected instructional technology; 32
(4) The digital platforms used; 33
(5) Standards and requirements for student use of 34
manipulatives and traditional materials; 35
(6) The process for a parent or guardian to obtain 36
information regarding his or her child's screen time and 37
instructional technology use and the process for a parent or 38
guardian to limit or eliminate his or her child's screen 39
time and instructional technology use; and 40
(7) The research, evidence, and information upon which 41
the policy is based. 42
4. In creating the policy, the district or charter 43
school shall consider and document research on best 44
practices in literacy instruction, instructional technology, 45
and assessment and the optimal role for the use of 46
handwriting and cursive writing in promoting literacy for 47
all students. 48
SB 1703 3
5. Each elementary school shall notify parents and 49
guardians annually of the policy adopted under subsection 3 50
of this section. Parents and guardians of students in 51
grades kindergarten through five may, upon request, receive 52
information about their child's login time and use of 53
district-provided instructional technology and online 54
learning platforms. The district or charter school shall 55
provide such available information within a reasonable time 56
and at no cost to the parent or guardian. 57
6. Each elementary school shall publish such policy on 58
such school's website. 59
7. Each policy adopted under subsection 3 of this 60
section shall be periodically updated, including 61
incorporating the best practices recommendations from the 62
recommended model school board policy on screen time and use 63
of technology in instruction from the framework on classroom 64
use of screens (FOCUS) council created under section 65
186.095, when such recommendations become available. 66
8. This section shall be implemented before the end of 67
the 2027-28 school year and shall apply for all subsequent 68
school years. 69
186.085. The literacy advisory council established 1
under section 186.080 shall provide advice on the inclusion 2
of instruction and assessment of cursive writing and 3
reading, including the optimal role for the use of cursive 4
writing and reading in promoting literacy for all students. 5
Such advice shall include recommendations for a related 6
model policy on cursive. 7
186.095. 1. The commissioner of education shall 1
establish a "Framework on Classroom Use of Screens Council" 2
or "FOCUS Council". The council shall consist of at least 3
twelve but no more than fifteen members. The council shall 4
SB 1703 4
consist of the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, 5
who shall serve as chair of the council. The other members 6
of the council shall be appointed by the commissioner and 7
shall include members representing the following stakeholder 8
groups: 9
(1) School boards; 10
(2) Charter schools; 11
(3) Elementary building principals who have gone 12
through leadership training through the Missouri leadership 13
development system; 14
(4) At least three teachers, including teachers with 15
expertise in reading instruction, math instruction, and 16
special education, with at least one teacher who has 17
participated in the Missouri leadership development system; 18
(5) A representative from a parental advocacy group 19
that represents children struggling with literacy and a 20
representative from an advocacy group that represents 21
children with disabilities; 22
(6) At least one faculty member of an institution of 23
higher education with an approved teacher preparation 24
program; 25
(7) A pediatric mental health professional or board- 26
certified behavioral analyst licensed in the state, 27
preferably with experience in technology and behavioral 28
responses; and 29
(8) A medical professional with expertise in child 30
health and development. 31
2. The department of elementary and secondary 32
education shall provide necessary staff and resources for 33
the work of the advisory council. 34
3. (1) The council shall meet at least four times per 35
year in its initial year and at least twice per year 36
SB 1703 5
thereafter to conduct a comprehensive survey and analysis of 37
screen time and instructional technology use in public 38
schools and to review best practices regarding screen use 39
and the use of technology in instruction and related policy 40
provisions. Items and information related to such best 41
practices and policies shall include, but not be limited to: 42
(a) Impacts on educational outcomes; 43
(b) Impacts on behavioral and discipline outcomes; 44
(c) Impacts on special education; 45
(d) Impacts on early childhood brain development, 46
including reading and writing skills; 47
(e) The deterioration of student competency in 48
reading, writing, arithmetic, and science; 49
(f) The need to strengthen human connection in 50
classrooms and support healthy, respectful relationships; 51
(g) The isolation of students in a digital and virtual 52
world; and 53
(h) Other such items and information to be determined 54
by the council. 55
(2) The council shall meet for the first time for 56
purposes of this subsection before December 1, 2026, and the 57
whole council or a subcommittee thereof shall hold at least 58
three additional meetings for purposes of this subsection 59
before July 1, 2027. 60
(3) On or before July 1, 2027, the council shall 61
submit a report containing the council's actions, findings, 62
recommendations, and policy proposals to the state board of 63
education, the governor, and the joint committee on 64
education. 65
(4) The recommendations shall include a recommended 66
model school board policy on screen time and instructional 67
SB 1703 6
technology use. The model policy shall recommend best 68
practices regarding: 69
(a) Student screen time; 70
(b) Student use of instructional technology; 71
(c) Restrictions on student screen time; 72
(d) Restrictions on student use of instructional 73
technology; 74
(e) Restrictions on student access to internet- 75
connected instructional technology; 76
(f) Student use of manipulatives and traditional 77
materials; 78
(g) The process for a parent or guardian to obtain 79
information regarding his or her child's screen time and 80
instructional technology use; 81
(h) Minimizing or eliminating school district- or 82
charter school-issued devices or school district or charter 83
school educational technology being used outside the school 84
day; and 85
(i) The process for a parent or guardian to limit or 86
eliminate his or her child's screen time and instructional 87
technology use. 88
(5) The recommendations may include suggested changes 89
to state law. 90
(6) The report shall be presented to the state board 91
of education and to the joint committee on education in 92
public hearings. The report shall be updated at least every 93
two years to provide additional information regarding the 94
council's actions, recommendations, and policy proposals. 95
✓