Pennsylvania Senate passes bill encouraging school districts to ban students’ phone use during day
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania — The Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday approved a bill encouraging school districts to launch a pilot program that effectively bans students’ use of cellphones during the school day, in an effort to improve their mental health and academic performance.
The bill, which passed 45-5, would authorize grants to school districts to purchase lockable bags after the district establishes a policy requiring students to leave their phones in such bags for the entire school day. It now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Ryan Aument of Lancaster, said he hopes restrictions on phone use will result in improvements in students’ mental health and academic performance.
“Kids are spending so much time on social media and using their smartphones that it’s taking a toll on them mentally, emotionally and academically. Smartphone restrictions have proven successful in reversing these trends,” Aument said.
below the billThe policy must provide exemptions for students with a documented medical condition that requires them to use a cell phone. Participating school districts must track changes in student mental health, bullying, violence, and academic performance over two school years.
Grants would be awarded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Separate legislation would be needed to set grant amounts and appropriate money for the purpose.
Most schools already have rules for student cell phone use. But a growing number of state officials have begun supporting a ban on cellphones in schools, and similar legislation is being introduced in other states.
Last year, Florida became the first state to take a tougher approach, passing a law requiring public schools to ban students from using cell phones during class and block access to social media on district Wi-Fi networks. Some districts went even further, banning phones for the entire school day.
California allows school districts to restrict or ban students’ use of smartphones in school. The Los Angeles Unified School District school board voted last month to develop such a policy.
The passage of the Pennsylvania bill in the state Senate comes two weeks after US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms and highlight their effects on young people.