The Missouri House of Representatives has had a busy season. Many hot topics were discussed on and off the floor. One of the bills discussed would have given students more time for books rather than screen time. Our Representative, Keith Elliott, voted against it.
The Bill
House Bill 2230 limits screen time for students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Instead, students are to use paper books with pens, pencils, and paper. It states that 70% of all student work must be completed with pen/pencil and paper. This bill has a 45-minute cap on student screen use. Additionally, it mandates cursive writing, which has been eliminated from many schools. The bill states the importance of cursive writing.
Process
The bill went into committee in February, where it was discussed. An amendment was added to eliminate this use from virtual classes. The bill did pass and is now in the Senate.
Our Representative
Representative Keith Elliott, who represents the 153rd district, voted in favor of the bill.
He supported it because it takes a balanced approach to screen time in early grades. It doesn’t remove technology from classrooms; instead, it encourages school districts to set thoughtful, locally developed guidelines for how and when screens are used by students in K–5. The goal is to make sure technology supports learning without replacing important hands-on teaching and basic skill development.
The bill also helps keep parents in the loop by requiring annual notice of the district’s policy and making that information easy to find on school websites.
Representative Elliott is sure technology has some benefits; however, the physical strain on one’s vision and the lack of interaction could be better balanced.  Overall, though, the bill is written to give schools local control while still setting some helpful guardrails.
AltonMo.com will be watching as our Senate decides on this bill.
