Pennsylvania bans cellphones, mobile devices in schools
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Pennsylvania will ban cellphones in schools for students starting next fall.
Why it matters: It's the latest crackdown on tech in the state over fears that the devices are distractions, addictive and cause depression.
The big picture: Banning cellphones in school is trendy in the U.S.
- At least 39 states either have bans or require school districts to adopt policies restricting phone usage.
Driving the news: Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the bipartisan bill Monday.
How it works: Each public, charter and private K-12 school in the state must have its own policy around student possession of mobile devices that prohibits their use from bell-to-bell at least by the beginning of the 2027-28 school year.
- The ban applies to all devices — cellphones, smartwatches and anything capable of connecting to the internet.
- Plus: The ban is not limited to classrooms but all school property — think lunchrooms and hallways.
Worth noting: The law does not mandate schools take possession of a student's mobile device.
The caveat: State lawmakers carved out exceptions to the ban, including for those with a medical condition, English-language learners and educational purposes.
Zoom out: New Jersey's ban on cellphones and devices in schools took effect this school year.
The intrigue: While schools with bans have seen phone use decline, there's little evidence those policies lead to a boost in academic improvement, per a study from the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Flashpoint: Parents across the U.S. have been divided over the cellphone school bans due to concerns they won't be able to reach their kids or track them down.
What's next: Philly school district leaders say they will "work with principals, educators, students, and families to inform the development of a districtwide policy" ahead of next fall, per a released statement from the city's board of education.
- The board and district declined Axios' request for comment.
Context: Philly's school district currently has a general rule that students shouldn't use personal "computing devices" inside district buildings.
- District policy has allowed individual school leaders to establish their own protocols around cellphones and devices.