MA School 'Bell-To-Bell' Smartphone Ban Takes Bill Big Step At State House

SALEM, MA — A statewide "bell-to-bell" ban on student smartphone use during the school day took a big step toward implementation will its passage in the State Senate. If the House passes that bill, or a very similar one, it would move to Gov. Maura Healey's desk to be signed into law.

Healey has said she is in support of the restriction that would require school districts to prohibit student cell phone use during the school day in order to boost focus, improve mental health and foster healthier learning environments.

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Supporters said reasonable exceptions to the rule will be made for students who need their personal devices for treating medical conditions, off-campus travel requirements, individualized education plans (IEP), or to accommodate a disability, and for emergency situations.

"Technology has changed rapidly, including new classroom technologies that have enhanced our students learning, but the basic tenets of learning in classrooms remain the same — focus, engagement, and curiosity," State Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) said. "Cell phone usage among students in classrooms, however, is strongly detrimental, from creating distractions to the potential for cheating and cyberbullying.

"With the passage of this bill, we are further ensuring that students, teachers, and other school staff are able to create an optimal environment for learning."

Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education Jason Lewis said that 72 percent of high school teachers consider cell phones to be a "major problem" in the classroom, and that numerous studies have shown "many robust benefits to student learning and growth by removing cell phones from their educational environment."

"Massachusetts has a proud history of supporting and uplifting K-12 public education for our residents, but a device small enough to fit in a pocket presents a profound challenge to ensuring student success," Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) said. "That's why I charged the Senate in May of this year to explore ways to make our schools cell phone-free. This legislation delivers on that commitment and builds on the Senate's mission of creating a statewide education system that continues to promote learning and growth."

The bill would direct the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to create guidelines within 180 days of the enactment of the law. Districts will have the freedom to decide what works best for them, whether they decide on using pouches, lockers, or other storage options for
electronic devices. Districts will also have the ability to adjust rules based on grade levels or the structures of their school days.

Approximately 80 school districts have already implemented some level of smartphone ban for the upcoming school year.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)