Pa. senators push bill mandating cellphone-free school days

“Children are struggling emotionally, socially, and academically. The data is clear: smartphones are playing a major role,” Robinson said. “I’m proud to work with my colleagues across the aisle to ensure Pennsylvania students have the opportunity to learn and connect with one another without a constant distraction in their pocket.”

Senate Bill 1014 would require schools to implement all-day cellphone-free policies, with reasonable exceptions including: students with medical conditions; students with individualized education plans requiring the use of a personal communication device; English language learners who rely on translation apps; and limited teacher-approved instructional use with approval from the school principal.

“Right now, cell phones and social media are causing a detrimental impact to learning, socialization, and mental health in schools. Data shows that 72% of U.S. high school teachers say cellphone distraction is a major problem in the classroom,” said Hughes. “Bell-to-bell legislation is a commonsense approach to getting kids off of their screens and social media during school hours and back to what’s happening in the classroom.”

Research underscores the urgency of the problem. Since the early 2010s — when smartphone ownership among teens skyrocketed from 23% to 73% — rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among adolescents have surged. The suicide rate for children ages 10–14 has tripled since 2007. In addition, half of all teens say they have experienced cyberbullying at least once.

Academically, schools have also seen performance decline. Math and reading scores began dropping for the first time in 25 years in 2012 — the same period that marked the rapid rise of smartphone and social media use among teens. According to national surveys, 74% of adults and 90% of teachers favor prohibiting cellphone use during class time, while 75% of teachers support full bell-to-bell bans.

“Each year, more studies are showing the negative impact of constant smartphone use on the academic, social and emotional development of our children. The impact of these addictive devices in schools cannot be ignored,” said Santarsiero. “Removing phones from our schools will help students focus during class, engage in healthier interactions with their peers, and improve student mental health.”

Studies show that schools with cellphone restrictions see improved academic outcomes, better classroom behavior, and stronger student relationships. Many Pennsylvania schools that have already implemented these policies report that students are engaging more with each other during free time and paying closer attention in class.

“A bell-to-bell phone-free school policy in Pennsylvania will help our kids get the space and place to focus on academics without the distractions,” said Kirstin McGowan, co-lead of PA Unplugged, a grassroots group advocating for phone-free schools in Pennsylvania. “Restricting access to personal electronic devices during the school day will help drive student engagement with teachers, classmates, and staff; they will get to have a safe space to grow and become the best versions of themselves; and we as taxpayers get to feel more confident that our investment in education isn't wasted by distracted kids.”

If enacted, Pennsylvania would join 27 other states that have restricted cellphone use in schools. Eighteen of those states enforce all-day bans.

The legislation now awaits consideration by the Senate.