HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Senate this week passed legislation to require public schools across the commonwealth to adopt policies prohibiting student cellphone use during the school day, according to Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-46), who supported the measure.
Senate Bill 1014 aims to curb classroom distractions, improve academic performance and address growing concerns about youth mental health and social development.
“Classrooms should be for learning, not scrolling,” Bartolotta said. “This bill gives schools the ability to limit distractions, support student mental health and create environments where teachers can teach and students can fully engage in their education.”
The bill would require each school district to develop its own bell-to-bell cellphone policy, following a consistent statewide standard: students may not carry or use cellphones during the school day. Districts retain flexibility to choose the enforcement method that works best for their communities. The bill includes exceptions for medical needs, individualized education programs (IEPs) requiring a communication device, English-language learners using translation apps and instructional use with teacher permission.
Schools, educators and parents across Pennsylvania have increasingly expressed concern about how smartphones contribute to anxiety, depression, cyberbullying and reduced classroom engagement.
Recent data reveals an alarming decline in youth mental health and academic performance, coinciding with the widespread adoption of smartphones. Since the early 2010s, teen depression has surged by approximately 150%, while suicide rates among children ages 10-14 have tripled between 2007 and 2021, with the steepest increases among girls. Today teens spend nearly eight hours per day on screens — equivalent to a full-time job — and receive an average of 237 notifications daily.
Nearly half of U.S. teens report experiencing cyberbullying, 45% feel overwhelmed by social media drama, and 26% say it worsens their lives. Following the introduction of smartphones between 2010 and 2015, teen ownership skyrocketed from 23% to 73%. Research also links smartphone use before age 13 to increased aggression, emotional instability and suicidal thoughts later in life.
If enacted, Pennsylvania would join 27 states with student cellphone restrictions — including 18 states enforcing bell-to-bell bans.
This legislation reflects a Senate Republican priority to address the growing impact of smartphones on education and mental health, while ensuring schools have the tools to create distraction-free learning environments. It now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
CONTACT: Brian Tirpak