Pennsylvania schools will have to prohibit students from using cellphones and other personal mobile devices throughout the school day under a new law signed Oct. 26 by Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Senate Bill 1014 requires public, charter and private school entities to adopt and implement a bell-to-bell policy by the start of the 2027-28 school year. The state is giving schools nearly a year to write rules and explain how students, families and staff will follow them.
The restriction applies during the school day on school property, including periods such as lunch and recess. Each school entity must decide how its policy handles devices students bring to campus and how staff will enforce the rule.
The law requires exceptions for documented medical needs, accommodations in an individualized education program or 504 plan, translation assistance for English learners, and instructional use approved by a teacher. School leaders may authorize limited additional exceptions under the law.
Schools also must tell parents how to reach students during emergencies, give parents a way to sign up for emergency notifications, seek public input on their policy and publish the final policy online. The law leaves those communication procedures to each school entity.
That means families in Adams County may see different storage and enforcement details from district to district even though the statewide restriction is the same. The statute does not require one particular type of phone pouch, locker or collection system.
The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the teachers’ union, supported the measure and said classroom phone use can interfere with instruction. The governor’s office described the ban as a way to help students focus and interact with one another during the day.
The change will not take effect immediately. Districts and other school entities must prepare their written policies before the 2027-28 school year begins, and the required public input and online posting are intended to make those local rules available to families.