Bipartisan proposals to ban cellphones in the state’s public schools are gaining steam.
State Reps. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel, and Jill Cooper, R-Murrysville, are among those spearheading House Bill 1814 to restrict cellphones in classrooms. The move would protect children, streamline policies, reduce burden on staff and minimize disruptions, they said.
“Many teachers and parents tell me that this is an issue we need to address,” Steele said. “Our children are being harmed by unbridled access to their phones. We have to do something to protect them.”
On Wednesday, state Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville, hosted a press conference to mark that chamber’s approval of his co-sponsored bill to implement a “bell-to-bell” ban on student cellphone use in school.
Senate Bill 1014 would create a consistent statewide standard, Robinson said, and help curb classroom distractions, boost academic performance and address growing concerns about mental health.
It now heads to the House for consideration.
“Our classrooms should be places for learning, not constant notifications,” Robinson said. “This bill gives students the freedom to focus, connect with peers and protect their mental health from the pressures of social media.”
In the past week, Gov. Josh Shapiro appears to have joined the call.
On Jan. 29, he requested that lawmakers send one bill to his desk that would shut down cellphones from the time students enter school to the time they leave for home.
In a post on X, Shapiro said: “It’s time for us to get distractions out of the classroom and create a healthier environment in our schools.
“Students need to spend time focused on learning, on socializing with their peers, and on developing the critical skills they’ll need later in life.”
Data-backed research shows that access to phones can hinder learning and contribute to social turmoil for students, as well as cause enforcement challenges for teachers.
A decline in mental health and academic performance coincides with the widespread adoption of smartphones, according to the National Institutes of Health. Since the early 2010s, teen depression has surged by about 150%, according to the institute’s website.
Some reports show that teens recognize the distractions.
In a study conducted by the Brookings think tank, 76% of teens voiced a preference for some form of restrictions on phone use during the school day. In addition, the Pew Research Center reported a higher number of adults favor phone restrictions, up from 68% in fall 2024 to 74% in summer 2025.
More than 30 states have policies to restrict cellphone use in class. Some restrictions go bell-to-bell, others allow cell use in the hallways or at lunch.
Both Pennsylvania bills would prohibit phones all day, with exceptions for medical needs, those with IEPs and English as a second language learners.
Accommodations could also be made for single-day special occasions, such as field trips or science fairs.
Robinson said bell-to-bell policies are more effective because instruction-time-only bans ignore the critical development of social skills that occur between classes, at lunch and during other free periods throughout the school day.
“This bell-to-bell legislation will help both students and teachers get the most out of the school day,” said the bill’s co-sponsor, state Sen. Vincent Hughes. “We want our students focused on learning and socializing, not glued to their screens. And we want our teachers focused on educating students, not policing the use of cellphones and fighting for their attention.”
The bills each leave districts with flexibility on how to enforce the ban, including phone storage.
Public input sought
Steele will host a town hall Feb. 24 to hear from constituents about her bill. The program will be from 6 to 7 p.m. at Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel.
Cooper, whose district includes New Kensington, Arnold, Lower Burrell, Upper Burrell and several other Alle-Kiski Valley communities, posted a survey to her website to learn more about constituents’ concerns.
People can weigh in on a preference to restrict phone use all day, allow them to be used during lunch and other noninstruction periods, leave it up to the teacher’s discretion or allow schools to establish their own policies.
People also can vote against any restrictions.
Cooper plans to meet with superintendents in her district to gather their feedback. She believes focus and learning are at risk when students are distracted by their phones.
“If the phone is in your pocket and it buzzes, then you’re thinking about who’s trying to reach you,” she said. “I think everyone can take the day off from their phones.”
Kelly Marsh, parent and co-leader of grassroots group PA Unplugged, spoke at Robinson’s conference and said she has heard from thousands of families across the state that want distraction-free schools.
School safety experts and empirical data all show that restricting devices all day is best, not just while teachers are talking, she said.
“It’s what’s best for students, keeps them safest and is best for their mental health,” Marsh said.
“Learning happens throughout the entire school day. We have to think about what the time spent on phones is replacing. It will give students back time to focus and access creativity, and the opportunity to build human connections.”
During school hours, the average student spends more than an hour a day on the phone — which means nearly a full school day a week — which should concern any taxpayer, Marsh said.
The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the largest teacher’s union in the state, announced its support of the state Senate bill in October.
PSEA Vice President Jeff Ney said placing greater restrictions on mobile devices during the school day will be an adjustment for students, educators and parents, but it is the “right thing for our kids.”
There’s an added bonus to banning phones during class, Cooper said: advancement of social skills.
“Students learn the old-fashioned skill of communicating face-to-face,” she said, “and not always typing to talk.”
