School Cell Phone Use Bill Under Discussion In Bucks Co.

BUCKS COUNTY – A bill that would eliminate cell phone use in schools will be discussed during a webinar Tuesday night.

Bucks County State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10) has introduced a bill for a "bell-to-bell policy" prohibiting students from using cell phones and other non-academic smart devices during the school day, with certain exceptions.

Those exceptions would be for medical conditions, IEPs, English language learners needing translation apps, and principal/teacher-approved instructional use.

Sentarsiero is hosting a Zoom webinar at 7 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the impact of cell phones in schools.

Recent studies are showing that constant smartphone use is harming kids academically, socially, and emotionally.

Teens now spend nearly eight hours a day on their phones, equivalent to a full-time job, and receive an average of 237 notifications daily. This nonstop connectivity is linked to serious mental health challenges in early adulthood, including anxiety, aggression, emotional instability, and suicidal thoughts.

“We can no longer ignore the impact phones are having on students and our schools. That’s why I introduced SB 1014 with senators Vincent Hughes (D-7) and Devlin Robinson (R-37),” Senator Santarsiero said. “The bill would establish a bell-to-bell policy prohibiting students from using
cell phones and other non-academic smart devices during the school day, with certain exceptions. Each district would craft its own implementation plan after public comment and community input. We want to make sure we’re protecting our students while maintaining local control over how this law would be implemented.”

Many states have already enacted laws to keep schools cell phone-free and they see children focusing more on learning, developing meaningful relationships with their peers and improving childhood mental health.

Each year, more studies show that constant smartphone use is harming kids academically, socially, and emotionally. The event is free and open to the community. Interested attendees can RSVP here and submit questions in advance. The link to join the webinar will be sent out before the event.