Governor Josh Shapiro has backed a proposal to ban cell phones from classrooms across Pennsylvania, aimed at reducing distractions and improving student focus, writes Maddie Hanna for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“It’s time for us to get distractions out of the classroom and create a healthier environment in our schools,” wrote Shapiro in a post on X last week.
To achieve this the Montgomery County native has urged Pennsylvania lawmakers to pass a bill that will require state schools to prohibit cell phone use during the school day, “from the time they start class until the time they leave for home.”
The endorsement from Josh Shapiro comes amid a growing trend of cell phone bans, with 31 states now enforcing at least partial restrictions, including 23 states with “bell-to-bell” bans that prevent phone use from the first to the end of the last class period.
Currently, Pennsylvania allows schools to determine their own cell phone policies, resulting in a patchwork of approaches across districts. In 2024, the state launched a pilot program that provided funding for lockable pouches where students could store their phones during the day, though few districts took advantage of the offer.
Read more about the proposal to ban cell phones in the classroom in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
