Dear Fellow Parents,

If you’re a parent of a K-12 student in Kentucky right now, we need to talk. With HB 208’s cellphone restrictions taking effect, our children are about to experience a significant shift in their school day. But here’s the thing—this change doesn’t start and end at the school doors. It starts at home, with us.

The Real Work Begins at Home

Your child’s teacher can confiscate phones during class, but they can’t undo the overstimulation and sleep deprivation that’s happening in your child’s bedroom every night. We have to be the enforcers.

Here’s what needs to happen before school starts:

Have the conversation. Sit down with your child and explain HB 208. This isn’t just another school rule—it’s about creating space for learning, connection, and mental clarity that constant notifications destroy.

Set up real boundaries. If you have an iPhone family, use the Family settings. Android users, explore parental controls. Don’t just hope for the best—create systems that work even when willpower fails.

Take the HDMI cable to bed with you. Yes, you read that right. Your teenager doesn’t need to be gaming until 3 AM and then sleeping through first period. The Xbox will survive the night without them.

Get connected to their academic life. Sign up for your school’s Parent Portal if you haven’t already. You can’t support what you can’t see.

Why This Matters Beyond Grades

Our kids are experiencing unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and attention issues. The constant ping of notifications isn’t just interrupting math class—it’s rewiring developing brains for distraction and instant gratification.

HB 208 gives us a window of opportunity. Eight hours a day where our children can experience what it feels like to be fully present. But if we’re not creating similar boundaries at home, we’re undermining the very thing we’re trying to achieve.

We’re Partners Now

Teachers and parents have always been partners in education, but HB 208 makes this partnership more crucial than ever. Your child’s teacher is creating phone-free learning environments. Your job is to create phone-balanced home environments.

This isn’t about being the “mean parent.” This is about raising humans who can focus, connect, and think deeply in a world designed to scatter their attention.

The transition won’t be easy. Expect pushback. Expect negotiations. Expect “but everyone else gets to…” arguments. Stand firm anyway.

Our kids are watching to see if we really believe this matters. Let’s show them we do.

Ready to partner up?

A Fellow Parent (and Educator)

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HB 208 requires Kentucky public schools to restrict student cellphone use during instructional time. The success of this policy depends on consistent reinforcement both at school and at home.

Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer.