YOUR DESTINATION. NEW AT FOUR STUDENTS, KEEP YOUR PHONES TUCKED AWAY IN CLASS TODAY, THE STATE SENATE PASSED A BILL TO LIMIT CELL PHONE USE IN SCHOOLS. THE BILL WOULD CREATE THE CELL PHONE LOCKABLE BAG PILOT PROGRAM. ALSO AWARD GRANTS. SCHOOLS WOULD BE ABLE TO BUY LOCKABLE BAGS THAT STUDENTS PUT THEIR PHONES IN DURING THE DAY. THE BILL’S AUTHORS SAY. SMART PHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA USE ARE CAUSING A MENTAL HEALTH DECLINE IN CHILDREN.
Pennsylvania Senate passes bill to limit cellphone use in schools
Updated: 4:15 PM EDT Jul 3, 2024
The Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday passed a bill 45-5 to limit students’ use of cellphones in schools.Senate Bill 1207 would establish a pilot program to award grants to schools to purchase secure, lockable smartphone bags. Students would place their mobile devices in the bags until the end of the school day. Participating schools would be required to track metrics like academic performance, mental health and instances of bullying and other behavioral issues to study the impact of a smartphone-free school on students.Sen. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster County, is the bill’s sponsor.”Kids spend so much time on social media and using their smartphones that it’s taking a toll on them mentally, emotionally, and academically. Smartphone restrictions have proved successful in reversing these trends,” Aument said in a news release. “Students deserve to learn without a constant distraction in their pockets, and my legislation would give them that.”The bill would also require schools participating in the program to include exemptions in their smartphone use policy for students who have a documented medical condition that requires the use of a smartphone.The measure moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
The Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday passed a bill 45-5 to limit students’ use of cellphones in schools.
Senate Bill 1207 would establish a pilot program to award grants to schools to purchase secure, lockable smartphone bags. Students would place their mobile devices in the bags until the end of the school day.
Participating schools would be required to track metrics like academic performance, mental health and instances of bullying and other behavioral issues to study the impact of a smartphone-free school on students.
Sen. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster County, is the bill’s sponsor.
“Kids spend so much time on social media and using their smartphones that it’s taking a toll on them mentally, emotionally, and academically. Smartphone restrictions have proved successful in reversing these trends,” Aument said in a news release. “Students deserve to learn without a constant distraction in their pockets, and my legislation would give them that.”
The bill would also require schools participating in the program to include exemptions in their smartphone use policy for students who have a documented medical condition that requires the use of a smartphone.
The measure moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
