The Pennsylvania State Legislature has passed a bill banning cellphones in schools during the school day, with some exceptions. The State Senate approved the measure on Wednesday (October 21) with a 47-3 vote, following the State House’s earlier approval. Governor Josh Shapiro has expressed his support and is expected to sign the bill into law, according to Northeast Times.
The bill, Senate Bill 1014, requires public and private schools across Pennsylvania to implement policies by the 2027-28 school year that prohibit cellphone use from the first bell to the last. Exceptions include students with medical conditions, English learners using phones for translation, and certain educational activities approved by a principal. The Pennsylvania State Education Association supports the bill, emphasizing its role in reducing distractions during class time.
Senator Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny), the bill’s prime sponsor, stated, “We need to get cellphones out of our classrooms and let kids focus on learning.” Representative Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny) championed the measure in the House. However, some lawmakers, like Rep. Scott Barger (R-Blair), have voiced concerns about the bill’s exceptions, suggesting it could cause stress for educators and school officials…