Debrah Howes

AFT-NH Testimony in Support of HB 1129 The American Federation of Teachers – New Hampshire urges the House Education and Policy Administration Committee to recommend HB 1129 as Ought to Pass. HB 1129 provides an important and practical flexibility for local school districts by allowing exceptions to New Hampshire’s cell phone ban when electronic devices are needed for legitimate educational purposes. Not all districts have equal access to technology nor the financial resources to provide school issued devices to every student. As a result, some students are unable to fully participate in research, digital communication skill-building, and project-based learning that incorporates both hands-on and digital tools. Allowing a local superintendent, or their designee, to authorize the use of student laptops and tablets for specific educational activities ensures that learning opportunities are not limited by district resources. In communities where individual school-controlled devices cannot be provided to all students, HB 1129 offers a reasonable alternative that supports access to instruction for all students in an efficient manner without wasting time waiting for a turn to use a school-issued computer. This bill maintains the spirit of the statewide cell phone restrictions while recognizing the realities of instructional needs and resource disparities across districts. By permitting structured, educator-approved use of personal devices for learning, HB 1129 ensures all students can access the tools they need to succeed. For these reasons, we respectfully ask the Committee to find HB 1129 Ought to Pass