Put those phones down, kids! A statewide cell phone ban may be imposed on K-12 students within a year or two.
On Tuesday the Massachusetts Joint Education Committee voted to advance a bill that, if enacted, would prohibit students from using their phones during class.
Here are the key points.
- The bill would require school districts to create policies prohibiting students’ “physical access” to “personal electronic devices” during the school day.
- There are a number of common-sense exceptions to the ban.
- Each district’s policy must provide “one or more methods for parents and guardians of students to readily contact students during the school day.”
- Each policy must have “enforcement provisions.”
- Districts must implement their policies before the 2026-2027 school year.
- The full senate will likely vote on the bill by the end of this month.
- It’s unclear whether the house will approve the bill.
- Roughly 50% of states have similar legislation banning classroom cells phone use.
To read the text of the bill, entitled An Act to Promote Student Learning and Mental Health, click the document below.