Pennsylvania students may soon be banned from using their cellphones during the school day after the state Senate approved legislation Wednesday requiring districts to adopt “bell-to-bell” policies.
The legislation, Senate Bill 1014, requires school districts to adopt policies prohibiting students from using mobile devices throughout the entire school day, including non-instructional periods like lunch, by the 2027-28 school year. It includes exceptions for some students with medical conditions and disabilities, English language learners who use a phone as a translator and for certain approved educational activities.
Republican State Sen. Devlin Robinson of Bridgeville, who sponsored the bill, said the measure will let kids focus on learning.
“Teachers should not have to compete with smartphones for their students’ attention, and kids should be able to get through the school day without the constant pressure of social media and notifications,” he said in a statement. “Senate Bill 1014 establishes a clear statewide standard while allowing school districts to decide what works best for their communities.”
The state House passed the bill 141-62 on Monday. Pittsburgh-area Democrats Emily Kinkead, Anita Kulik and Lindsay Powell voted against it.
The legislation now heads to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk. Shapiro, who has expressed support for removing cellphones from classrooms, is expected to sign the bill.
The House sponsor, Fox Chapel Democrat Mandy Steele, called the bill’s passage “a historic day in the General Assembly.”
“I championed this measure in the House for one basic reason — our children need it,” Steele said in a statement. “We’re hitting back at Big Tech as they hold an entire generation captive to their phones. Throughout this process, I’ve heard from many educators and parents who see the harm to our children because of unfettered access to phones. And research backs it up.”
If the bill is signed by the governor, Pennsylvania would become the 30th state to prohibit students from using phones from morning bell to dismissal, according to a tracker by Education Week.
Several school districts, including Pittsburgh Public Schools, already have policies restricting students’ cellphone use.
PPS board members voted in December to prohibit students from using cellphones and other personal electronic devices on district property, including school buses. The policy took effect at the start of this school year.
The district’s policy includes exceptions for students with disabilities, approved instructional activities and other circumstances deemed by school administrators.