Two state senators — one Republican and one Democrat — say they plan to introduce legislation that would make public schools across the Commonwealth phone-free during the school day.
Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37) and Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-7) announced plans this week to introduce a bill requiring all Pennsylvania schools to implement policies that prohibit student cellphone use from the opening bell to the end of the school day.
Exceptions would be made for students with medical conditions or individualized education plans (IEPs) requiring a communication device.
The proposed legislation responds to what the lawmakers say is mounting research linking smartphone use to mental health challenges, learning disruptions, and academic decline among school-age children.
“Our students deserve the opportunity to learn without a constant distraction in their pockets,” the senators wrote in a co-sponsorship memo circulated last week. “We can make an immediate impact to improve the health and academic performance of our children through distraction-free learning while at school.”
The memo cites numerous studies connecting early smartphone use with increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. One study, published recently in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, they say, found that children who received smartphones before age 13 were significantly more likely to experience serious mental health issues in early adulthood.
According to Robinson and Hughes, the average age a child receives a smartphone in Pennsylvania is now 10.5 — and falling. Meanwhile, U.S. teens spend nearly eight hours per day on their phones and receive over 200 notifications daily, the memo notes.
In the classroom, the impact is measurable, the senators say. A 2024 poll by the National Education Association found that 90% of teachers support prohibiting phones during instructional time, and 75% support full-day bans. Another study from the PEW Research Center reported that 72% of high school teachers see phone use as a major distraction.
The senators say their proposal aligns Pennsylvania with a growing national trend. At least 27 other states, including New York, Virginia, and Florida, have taken steps to restrict student phone use during school hours.
Image: Canva
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