A local lawmaker is proposing a statewide cell phone ban in schools.
This fall, students at Penn Hills will put their phones in a locked pouch at the start of each school day. A way the district says to reduce distraction and improve student mental health.
Now, State Rep. Tony DeLuca is introducing a bill that would ban cell phones in public schools statewide.
“Some people are saying, ‘Well, that should be up to the local school districts.’ I don’t think that works, because you have students at other school districts who have their phones, and maybe this school district won’t,” he said.
“It’s not going to work. There has to be a statewide initiative.”
If the legislation passed, schools would be able to develop their own policies with the Department of Education's approval.
According to the memorandum by DeLuca, studies were completed in the U.S., Spain and Norway showed a positive impact in academics when cell phones were prohibited during the school day.
You can read the full memorandum here.
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