HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed legislation addressing student cellphone use during school.
Senate Bill 1014 requires all Pennsylvania public, charter, cyber charter, and private schools to adopt policies prohibiting students from using personal cell phones throughout the school day, including during lunch, recess, and between classes.
The bill maintains local control by allowing each school district to decide how to ensure students are not using their cellphones throughout the school day.
In 2025, the Pennsylvania Youth Survey of 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th graders found 24 percent of students reported spending four or more hours per school day on social media and 36.3 percent reported four or more hours of total non-school screen time.
“Technology is a powerful tool, but it’s also a powerful distraction, and I’ve heard from parents and teachers who tell me about how our kids are too easily caught up by addictive algorithms that are preventing them from focusing on school, building relationships with other kids, and developing the social skills that help us all relate to each other in person,” said Governor Shapiro.
“We need to get cellphones out of our classrooms and let kids focus on learning,” said bill sponsor Devlin Robinson (R-37). “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.”
Robinson added that the legislation establishes a statewide standard while allowing school districts to decide what works best for their communities. “It’s time to put our students’ education and well-being first and make Pennsylvania schools cellphone-free,” Devlin concludes.
Under the law, exceptions are made for the following:
Students or immediate family members with certain medical conditions;
English as a second language learners who use cellphones for translation purposes;
Single-day special occasions like field days or science fairs;
Students with individualized education plans that require the use of a personal communication device
Limited instances for teachers who want to use cellphones as instructional tools with approval by the school principal.
Supporters of the bill say it addresses classroom distractions while responding to growing concerns about the effects of smartphones and social media on young people’s mental health.
Experts claim that constant connectivity can make it harder for students to focus during class and may expose them to cyberbullying and other online pressures throughout the school day.
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