A cell phone ban bill has passed in the Pennsylvania Senate and will now head to Governor Josh Shapiro’s desk, where he is expected to sign it.
Senate Bill 1014 bans student cellphone use across the commonwealth from the beginning of the school day until the end, with a few exceptions.
The bill passed with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.
“We need to get cellphones out of our classrooms and let kids focus on learning,” said Republican Senator Devlin Robinson. “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. Senate Bill 1014 establishes a clear 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.”
“I’m thrilled we were able to pass our bipartisan bell-to-bell legislation in Pennsylvania,” said Democratic Senator Vincent Hughes. “Data shows 45% of teens report feeling overwhelmed by drama on social media, and 26% report feeling worse about themselves because of what’s happening on their phones. This new law will remove that distraction during school time and limit the strain on students’ mental health, allowing them to focus on the classroom and socializing with peers.”
The exceptions to the ban include:
- Students or close family with certain medical issues
- English as a second language students who use their phone to translate
- Can be used during field trips, science fairs or other special events.
- Students with individualized education plans that require a cellphone
- Limited instances when the teacher wants to use a phone as a teaching tool (needs to get principal approval).
“We commend Sens. Robinson, Hughes, and Santarsiero, Rep. Steele, and the bipartisan group of lawmakers who voted for this important legislation, freeing Pennsylvania students from the constant disruptions of cellphones and mobile devices during the school day,” said Aaron Chapin, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. “This bill takes an essential step toward reducing distractions for students during class time and keeping lessons and teaching on track. We are confident that this change to the school day will have a positive impact on student academic performance, student behavior, and mental health.”
Pennsylvania will become the 25th state with a bell-to-bell ban. 40 states have a ban of some sort in effect.
Many schools across Pennsylvania already have cell phone bans in place.
