HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania is one step away from removing smartphones and mobile devices from public school classrooms statewide.
Bipartisan legislation requiring school districts to adopt policies prohibiting student cellphone use during the school day cleared the General Assembly and now heads to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk for his signature.
Senate Bill 1014, sponsored by Sens. Devlin Robinson, R-37, Vincent Hughes, D-7, and Steve Santarsiero, D-10, establishes a statewide standard while giving local school boards flexibility in enforcing the rules.
Supporters say the measure is designed to curb academic distractions and address growing concerns over youth mental health and social media exposure during school hours.
“We need to get cellphones out of our classrooms and let kids focus on learning,” Robinson said. “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.”
Under the bill, individual school districts maintain local control over implementation, allowing administrators to decide the precise methods for keeping devices out of students’ hands from the opening bell to dismissal.
The legislation outlines specific exceptions to the prohibition, including:
- Students or immediate family members with designated medical conditions.
- English as a second language students who rely on devices for translation assistance.
- Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) requiring personal communication devices.
- Single-day special events, such as science fairs or field days.
- Limited instructional use requested by teachers and pre-approved by a school principal.
Advocates point to adolescent mental health data as a primary driver behind the policy. Hughes noted national findings showing 45% of teenagers report feeling overwhelmed by social media drama, while 26% report feeling worse about themselves because of online activity.
“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,” Hughes said.
Santarsiero, a former educator, said the measure will deliver tangible improvements in student safety and academic outcomes starting next school year.
“As a former teacher, I know exactly how important this legislation is for improving our school outcomes and providing our children a safe environment for learning,” Santarsiero said.
The bill has drawn strong endorsement from major education and parent advocacy groups across the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, announced its support for the measure in October 2025.
Aaron Chapin, president of the association, commended the bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, noting that the change will stabilize classroom environments.
“This bill takes an essential step toward reducing distractions for students during class time and keeping lessons and teaching on track,” Chapin said. “We are confident that this change to the school day will have a positive impact on student academic performance, student behavior, and mental health.”
Parent organization representatives also welcomed the legislative action. Kelly Marsh, co-lead of PA Unplugged, acknowledged that while a school-day ban will not resolve the youth mental health crisis entirely, it guarantees students a uninterrupted environment to learn and build real-world social connections.
If signed by Shapiro, Pennsylvania will join 40 other states that restrict mobile devices in schools, 19 of which enforce full bell-to-bell bans.
