North Dakota seeks public input on school technology policies

A statewide survey now open through Aug. 1 is asking Jamestown-area parents, teachers and students a simple question with big classroom stakes: how is school technology actually affecting learning right now? The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction says the feedback will help shape policy recommendations before the 2027 legislative session, and state leaders want input on whether devices are sharpening instruction or pulling students off task.

The survey, launched May 28, asks whether elementary students should face limits on how long they use devices during the school day, whether students should be allowed to take devices home unless there is a specific educational purpose, and whether districts should be required to adopt formal policies on educational technology and student devices. It also asks how many make-up days districts should have before using virtual instruction that counts toward required instructional hours, and whether North Dakota should buy and require monitoring software for school-issued devices.

For families in Jamestown and across Stutsman County, the issue is no longer just whether phones belong in school. After North Dakota’s phone-free schools law took effect Aug. 1, 2025, officials said some students moved from personal phones to school-issued laptops or tablets for YouTube and social media. House Bill 1160 requires personal electronic communication devices to be securely stowed and inaccessible from the start of the school day until dismissal. State Superintendent Levi Bachmeier said some districts already use monitoring software that tracks student technology use, but not all do. “It’s inconsistent,” Bachmeier said.

Leaders behind the survey say they do not want to remove technology from classrooms. Instead, they want to make sure it serves learning rather than distraction. Rep. Jim Jonas said the cellphone ban has done what its supporters expected by keeping the focus in school on learning. Sen. Michelle Axtman said any changes should strengthen instruction, support learning and help students build interpersonal and critical-thinking skills.

The public input will help guide the state’s next steps, and that matters for local families deciding how much screen time belongs in a classroom, what kinds of devices should come home in backpacks, and whether schools need stronger rules around digital use. With policy recommendations headed toward the 2027 Legislature, the survey gives Jamestown-area residents a chance to weigh in before those decisions are made in Bismarck.