Politics
Pennsylvania lawmakers approve statewide school-day cellphone restrictions
Public and private schools would have to bar students from using mobile devices during the school day under legislation approved by wide margins in the state House and Senate. The measure includes exceptions for medical, educational and translation needs and requires districts to set policies by the 2027-28 school year.
Pennsylvania’s public and private schools will be required to restrict students’ cellphone use throughout the school day under legislation passed by the General Assembly this week. The bill now goes to Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has said he will sign it.
The Senate approved the measure 47-3 on Wednesday, Oct. 21, following a 141-62 vote in the House two days earlier. School officials must establish policies by the start of the 2027-28 school year, including enforcement procedures and written notice to parents and guardians.
The restrictions will allow exceptions for students whose medical conditions or individualized education programs require access to a mobile device, as well as English-language learners using phones for translation. Devices may also be allowed for specific lesson plans.
State Sen. Vincent Hughes, a Philadelphia Democrat who sponsored the legislation, said the policy is intended to reduce classroom distractions and address concerns about students’ social media use and mental health. He said limiting phone use during school hours could help students focus on learning and spend more time interacting with classmates.
Shapiro said he had urged lawmakers to act and described the bill as a bipartisan effort to help students and educators. The governor said schools should be able to focus on learning and give students space to be children.
The statewide policy arrives as school communities debate how digital devices should be used in education. Philadelphia’s school district currently lets principals choose cellphone approaches suited to their schools. Some local administrators have praised locked pouches as a way to improve students’ academic and social environment, while West Philadelphia High School Principal Marla Travis has warned that a ban could deter some older students from attending.
The broader debate also includes school-issued technology. In August, seven families sued the Lower Merion School District over its policy requiring students to use district computers connected to the internet, arguing that the devices could expose students to harmful online content. The district disputed the families’ claims in court.
Under the new law, districts will have to translate the statewide requirement into school-level rules, while accounting for the specified exceptions and communicating expectations to families before the 2027-28 school year.