Beacon Hill considering school cellphone ban
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Massachusetts moved a bit closer to implementing a statewide cellphone ban in public schools this week, with the Senate preparing a vote this month.
Why it matters: If the House agrees to the ban, all public schools would implement cellphone restrictions by the 2026-27 school year.
- Lawmakers and education experts say there are growing concerns about academic performance and students' mental health because of social media.
- Bill supporters in the Senate cited cellphones as "major barriers to student growth and achievement in the classroom."
Zoom in: The Senate's bill mandates a baseline restriction but allows local schools some flexibility in implementing the ban.
- School districts must create "bell-to-bell" prohibition policies during school hours, meaning phones would be off limits during the school day.
- There would be exceptions for students with disabilities, multilingual learners and for emergencies.
- Schools would be required to maintain communication methods between students and parents.
Zoom out: Massachusetts would join at least 25 states with classroom cellphone restrictions.
- 77% of public schools already prohibit some phone use during class, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Between the lines: Senate President Karen Spilka and Attorney General Andrea Campbell have championed a cellphone ban, and Gov. Maura Healey has expressed support for limiting cellphone use in schools.
- The sticking point will be Speaker Ron Mariano and the rest of the House. Marinano has said he's aware of the problems cellphones pose for students, but he hasn't expressed support for a ban either.
What's next: If senators pass the bill this month, it'll go to the House, a chamber with an established habit of ignoring the Senate's priorities.