PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania school districts that don’t already have a policy prohibiting students’ access to their cellphones during the school day will likely be required to come up with one soon. Legislation supported by Gov. Josh Shapiro is nearing the finish line in the state Legislature.
The bill would require all Pennsylvania public schools to adopt a bell-to-bell ban on phones before the start of the 2026-27 school year. The policy would prohibit student phone use during the day while on school property, including study hall, recess, lunch, and in the hallways.
It leaves specific details up to each district, not requiring, but allowing the school to take possession of the phone.
“Our children are being held captive by big tech, by that smartphone in their pocket,” said Allegheny County Democrat Mandy Steele. “The absolute bare minimum that we can do is to get these things out of our schools.”
The bill has some exceptions. It permits phones for translation, documented medical conditions, an individualized education program (IEP), or with permission from a designated school administrator.
Blair County Republican Scott Barger questioned those exceptions.
“This bill, I think, is going to cause stress for teachers, school administrators, and schools as they try to enforce it, even though I agree that they shouldn’t be in school at all,” he said.
The bill passed the state Senate in February, 46-1, and cleared the state House, 141-62. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence before heading to Shapiro’s desk. The governor has voiced support for it.
Bill would require public schools to implement ban before the start of 2026-27 academic year
Bill would require public schools to implement ban before the start of 2026-27 academic year
