Pennsylvania public and private schools will be required to ban students’ use of personal cell phones throughout the school day under a new law signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Senate Bill 1014 requires school districts and educational institutions to adopt policies prohibiting students from using personal cellphones for the entirety of the school day, including lunch, recess and time between classes. Schools must implement the policies by the beginning of the 2027-28 school year.
The law applies to public school districts, charter and cyber charter schools, intermediate units, career and technical schools, private schools and other covered nonpublic institutions. It does not require schools to physically collect students’ devices.
Shapiro signed the legislation Monday at Lenape Middle School in the Central Bucks School District, where students are already required to keep their phones turned off and put away throughout the school day.
Central Bucks Superintendent Joanna Wexler said schools will continue working with students, staff and parents as they prepare to implement the new requirements.
The law includes exceptions for documented medical needs, special education and disability accommodations, English language learning devices and certain approved instructional uses.
Schools must also establish procedures for emergency communication with parents, provide opportunities for public input on their policies and publish the policies online, according to the state.
The legislation follows concerns from educators, parents and lawmakers about students’ cellphone use and its potential effects on learning and social development.
Six questions about technology use were added to the Pennsylvania Youth Survey in 2025. The biennial survey collects responses from students in sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades across the state.
According to the survey results cited by the governor’s office, 24% of students reported spending at least four hours per school day on social media, while 36.3% reported at least four hours of total nonschool screen time.
“Technology is a powerful tool, but it’s also a powerful distraction," said Shapiro. "I’ve heard from parents and teachers who tell me about how our kids are too easily caught up by addictive algorithms that are preventing them from focusing on school, building relationships with other kids, and developing the social skills that help us all relate to each other in person."
Christie Besack, a social studies teacher at Central Bucks High School West, said limiting cellphone distractions can help students engage with one another and allow teachers to focus on instruction.
“Here at Central Bucks, we’ve already seen first-hand what happens when students put their phones away — they’re more present, they talk to each other more, they’re more engaged, and teachers can focus on teaching instead of competing for our students’ attention,” said Besack.
The legislation was sponsored by Republican state Sen. Devlin Robinson and passed the state House 141-62 and the Senate 47-3.
State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, a Democrat whose 10th Senate District includes parts of Bucks County, said the law establishes new boundaries for cellphone use in schools.
“Our phones can do great things to unlock information for us, but they can also be a huge distraction with negative impacts on our kids,” said Santarsiero. “This bill is an important step in our schools, and their success will show us how it’s done."
Kirstin McGowan, a parent advocate and co-leader of PA Unplugged, an organization focused on reducing children's screen time, said the law responds to concerns raised by parents, educators and health professionals.
“Like many other parents, I began noticing the very different childhood our kids are experiencing with the early and constant pull of technology and social media,” said McGowan, who went on to thank Shapiro for "helping make Pennsylvania a place where childhood happens in the real world first.”
Schools have until the beginning of the 2027-28 school year to adopt and implement policies that comply with the new law.
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