KEARNEY, Neb.--Schools across the state are hitting mute on student screens after a bill was passed by the Nebraska legislature.

The bill, LB140, was passed in May by Governor Jim Pillen. It’s aiming to address the growing concern surrounding the impact of cell phone usage on student performance in schools.

LB140 requires schools to develop a policy relating to the use of electronic communication devices by students.

Schools across the state are taking their own approaches to the new bill, but with the same intent in mind.

Yutan High School’s principal Stefanie Novotny’s new policy consists of calculator cubbies hung on doors where students can hang their phone up for class and there will be no personal screen time besides lunch and passing periods. 

She believes a switch like this will prove to be very beneficial in each classroom, not only in learning areas, but also with other skills students learn in school. 

"Because of our cell phones, our kids just don't have some of the social skills that they need like being able to work with one anther and being able to communicate effectively," said Novotny. "Some of them are very shy or anxious, so I'm hoping that this will allow them to develop some soft people skills that they just haven't had the past couple of years."

Yutan will implement this policy at the start of their school year, which begins tomorrow. 

Kearney High started this initiative last year. Assistant principal Ty Swarm thinks last year was an adjustment for students, but after tweaking regulations, has become a better outlet for learning.

This year, students are allowed to have their phones before and after school, as well as during lunch and passing periods. Swarm wants students to understand they are working to not only help students and parents, but also maximize focus in the classrooms.

“I would hope that our students see our cell phone policy as fair,” said Swarm. “It still allows them to have the ability to communicate and use their phones as needed during the school day, just not during that instructional learning time.”

While some schools have implemented it already, and some will just begin, reactions are unknown for sure with students coming back to this change. But, whether students like it or not, Nebraska schools are hanging up, for good.