Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker indicated he will sign legislation approved by Illinois lawmakers that prohibits students from using cellphones during school hours.
Senate Bill 2427, which requires schools to adopt policies to limit the use of cellphones during the school day, passed the Senate on Sunday, the last day of Illinois’ legislative session. The measure mandates K-12 school districts adopt “bell-to-bell” policies banning the use of phones from the first bell of the school day to the dismissal bell.
In a statement following the bill’s passage, Pritzker said he looks forward to signing what he called “vital protections” for students.
“Every parent and educator knows the damage that unchecked screen time and social media can do to our children and how disruptive they can be in school,” he said in a statement, in part. “The bipartisan support for this effort reflects the urgency educators and families across Illinois feel.”
The governor’s office previously cited Pew research studies showing that up to three-in-four high school teachers reported cellphone distractions as “a major problem” in instruction.
There would be exceptions to the measure, including cellphone use for managing health care, when a phone is required to fulfill an “Individualized Education Plan,” or for students who require phones to continue learning English. Medical exemptions for students who are caregivers for family members are also included in the legislation.
Under the measure, the Illinois State Board of Education must publish a template wireless communication device policy by Sept. 1, according to the bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Cristina Castro. The guidance is meant to help school districts implement their own policies.
The measure is modeled after policies adopted in some suburban school districts, such as Elgin School District U-46 and Hinsdale School District 86, which have enacted their own bans.
“It is time we help students rediscover their passion for learning and ability to stay present in the classroom,” Castro said in a news release. “Teachers and students should be able to collaborate effectively without distractions standing in the way.”
Numerous states have passed similar legislation, including Indiana, which banned students from using “wireless communication devices during instructional time.”
