Momentum is growing for a push to ban cellphones in the state\u2019s public schools.<\/p>\n
State Reps. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel, and Jill Cooper, R-Murrysville, are among those spearheading House Bill 1814 to restrict cellphones in classrooms.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a proposed bell-to-bell ban, meaning students would secure their cellphones in a lockbox or some kind of holder and not be granted access to it until the end of the school day.<\/p>\n
There would be exceptions for students who are first responders, students with individualized education programs (IEPs) and those who need a cellphone for medical monitoring of an immediate family member.<\/p>\n
Steele hosted a town hall meeting Tuesday evening at Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel, which was also livestreamed.<\/p>\n
Speakers included a pediatrician, a teachers union regional president and a parental advocate, among others, to educate people on what a problem cellphones in schools have become.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have seen what the allure of these devices does to kids,\u201d said Steele, a mother of four. \u201cIt\u2019s disturbing to witness this as a parent. I have seen how incredibly negatively impacted they are when they\u2019ve got these devices in their pockets around the clock.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just me that sees this, obviously. It is so many of us who are watching the way children are experiencing childhood now and are alarmed. It\u2019s something that\u2019s clearly wrong here.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was standing room only with at least 60 people attended the event at Cooper-Siegel, including several Fox Chapel Area School Board members, Fox Chapel Mayor Jonathan Colton and other local leaders from O\u2019Hara and neighboring communities.<\/p>\n
PA Unplugged co-leader Kelly Marsh said the attendance proved cellphones in schools is a big issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are so happy that this is elevated to a stance that people are coming together and having these really important community discussions so that everyone can hear from all the various stakeholders and make sure they understand whey we\u2019re here,\u201d she said. \u201cThis issue transcends a rule in a school building. This is really a public health crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kelly Marsh of PA Unplugged talks about a proposed bell-to-bell cellphone ban for Pennsylvania schools. pic.twitter.com\/jOOuy6XoEr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mike D. (@MikeJdiVittorio) February 25, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n The Senate\u2019s version<\/p>\n The state Senate last month approved a bill to implement a bell-to-bell ban on student cellphone use in school. It was co-sponsored by Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville.<\/p>\n Senate Bill 1014 would create a consistent statewide standard, Robinson said shortly after its passing, and help curb classroom distractions, boost academic performance and address growing concerns about mental health.<\/p>\n It now heads to the House for consideration. The Steele\/Cooper bill is still in committee.<\/p>\n School director: lawmakers overreaching<\/p>\n School Director Amy Cooper said the proposed House bill goes beyond what is appropriate for the state Legislature.<\/p>\n \u201c(This bill) represents a significant departure from Pennsylvania\u2019s longstanding approach to public school governance,\u201d Cooper said after the town hall.<\/p>\n \u201cDecisions regarding student conduct, discipline and day-to-day operations have historically \u2014 and appropriately \u2014 been the responsibility of locally elected school boards operating within the framework of the Public School Code.\u201d<\/p>\n She also said it would replace locally adopted policies with a one-size-fits-all mandate, undermining the role of school boards to respond to their communities\u2019 unique needs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe requirements are specific and allow for little flexibility for individual districts to make decisions that best meet the needs of their students, educators and families.<\/p>\n \u201cGuardrails would give school districts guidance, best practices or model policies. Not a statutory mandate that diminishes local control and imposes logistical burdens without funding or support.\u201d<\/p>\n Some attendees agreed, asking why a law is necessary if school districts are already implementing their own cellphone policies.<\/p>\n Uniform standard needed?<\/p>\n David Taylor, Pennsylvania State Education Association Western Region president, said not every school district regulates the devices in the same way. Having a state law would set a standard.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are actively attempting to put those commonsense restrictions into place,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cEverything goes back to local control in this state. Everybody knows that. You have one community that is very stringent about it. Another one that\u2019s so-so about it. Another one that\u2019s another way about it.\u201d<\/p>\n He said teachers are being relegated to being cellphone police and taking time out of teaching.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need a law so that it is accurately applied across the state,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n Mental health studies point out problems<\/p>\n Steele and panelists referenced multiple studies that have shown an increase in youth mental health problems, cyber bullying and phone usage, with the average student being on their phone about 70 minutes a day.<\/p>\n That adds up to one full school day per week.<\/p>\n A decline in mental health and academic performance coincides with the widespread adoption of smartphones, according to the National Institutes of Health<\/a>. Since the early 2010s, teen depression has surged by about 150%, according to the institute\u2019s website.<\/p>\n Some reports show teens recognize the distractions.<\/p>\n In a study conducted by the Brookings think tank, 76% of teens voiced a preference for some form of restrictions on phone use during the school day. In addition, the Pew Research Center reported a higher number of adults favor phone restrictions, from 68% in fall 2024 to 74% in summer 2025.<\/p>\n Other technology<\/p>\n Panelists also heard concerns about iPads and district-provided devices. They acknowledged technology could be problematic as well as useful, and present challenges that need to be tackled.<\/p>\n