WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 1, 2026 – Leading child safety and well-being organizations, The Anxious Generation Movement, Smartphone Free Childhood US, Institute for Families and Technology, and Becca Schmill Foundation, today announced that South Dakota has received an “F” grade on the national Phone-Free Schools State Report Card after legislation aiming to limit personal devices in schools failed to pass during the 2026 legislative session.
S.B. 198, sponsored by State Senate President Pro Tem Chris Karr (R-SD), would have restricted cell phone use by a student during the school day, as set by the board of the school district. South Dakota was one of only two states to have previously received a “0” for not introducing a phone-free school bill during the 2025 session on the initial Phone-Free Schools State Report Card released earlier this year.
“All South Dakota students deserve classrooms free from the constant distractions of smartphones when they should be learning and interacting with peers,” said Emily Rapp, director of public policy for the Institute of Families and Technology. “While we are disappointed S.B. 198 failed, momentum for strong policies that have proven to greatly benefit student outcomes continues to grow nationwide. South Dakota lawmakers can look to neighboring North Dakota as the gold standard for a strong, bell-to-bell law that sets students and teachers up for success.”
“We commend the South Dakota lawmakers who introduced and cosponsored S.B. 198, and we remain committed to working with state leaders to advance thoughtful, evidence-based solutions that support healthy learning environments,” said Deb Schmill, founder of the Becca Schmill Foundation.
Under the Report Card’s criteria, an “A” grade is awarded when legislation requires all personal electronic devices to be stored in secure, inaccessible locations throughout the entire school day, or from “bell-to-bell.” Bell-to-bell policies are proven to enhance academic performance, improve students’ mental and physical health, increase teacher satisfaction, protect student safety and privacy, and deepen school community relationships.
More information about South Dakota’s grade can be found here.
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About the Phone-Free Schools Report Card
Launched in 2026, the Phone-Free Schools State Report Card is published by leading child safety and well-being organizations, including The Anxious Generation Movement, Smartphone Free Childhood US, Institute for Families and Technology, and Becca Schmill Foundation. The report evaluates whether the laws in all 50 states and South Dakota, D.C., meet the gold standard for phone-free schools: policies requiring all students to store their personal electronic devices in secure, inaccessible locations for the entire school day (bell-to-bell).