DOYLESTOWN, PA — Pennsylvania school districts, charter schools and private schools must prohibit student cellphone use throughout the school day beginning in the 2027–28 academic year under legislation Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Monday, October 26, imposing a statewide mandate that will require Chester County schools to revise or establish policies governing mobile devices.
Senate Bill 1014 requires schools to restrict student possession and use of personal mobile devices from the beginning of the school day until dismissal, including during lunch, recess, and transitions between classes.
The law takes effect immediately, although schools have until the start of the 2027–28 school year to adopt and implement compliant policies.
The mandate applies to Pennsylvania school districts, intermediate units, career and technical schools, charter schools, regional charter schools, cyber charter schools, and covered private and nonpublic schools.
For Chester County’s public school districts and charter schools, the legislation establishes a uniform restriction that goes beyond policies limiting cellphone use during classroom instruction.
Schools retain authority to determine how devices will be secured and how violations will be handled.
The legislation does not prescribe a particular storage system or require school employees to confiscate phones. Districts may establish procedures involving backpacks, lockers, secure pouches or other methods consistent with the law.
Governing boards must develop or revise their policies, provide opportunities for public input, and establish enforcement procedures.
Schools must also inform parents and guardians how they can contact students during the school day, addressing a central operational concern associated with restricting access to personal phones.
Adopted policies must be posted online within five days, and schools must certify compliance to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
The law permits exceptions for documented medical needs, qualifying individualized education programs and Section 504 accommodations, translation assistance for English learners, and certain instructional uses approved by school administrators.
It also allows limited, administrator-approved exceptions for individual days under specified circumstances.
The legislation creates an implementation obligation without providing dedicated state funding for storage equipment, additional staffing, or enforcement.
A Senate fiscal note identifies no impact on Pennsylvania’s General Fund but does not quantify potential costs for individual school systems.
Consequently, Chester County school boards will need to determine whether existing facilities and administrative procedures can accommodate the restrictions or whether additional resources will be necessary.
Shapiro signed the measure at Lenape Middle School in the Central Bucks School District, where students already are required to keep phones turned off and put away throughout the school day.
The governor had identified school cellphone restrictions as a priority in his 2026–27 budget address, citing concerns from parents and educators about student distraction and excessive screen time.
“Technology is a powerful tool, but it’s also a powerful distraction,” Shapiro said, describing concerns that students’ attention to digital platforms interferes with classroom engagement and in-person relationships.
The administration cited findings from the 2025 Pennsylvania Youth Survey, which added questions about device access, social media use, and screen-time restrictions.
According to the survey, 24% of participating students reported spending at least four hours per school day on social media, while 36.3% reported four or more hours of non-school screen time.
The survey covers students in sixth, eighth, 10th, and 12th grades across Pennsylvania.
Secretary of Education Carrie Rowe said the legislation establishes statewide expectations while allowing individual schools to determine implementation methods.
“It gives schools a clear framework for reducing those distractions while trusting school leaders to make decisions that reflect their local context,” Rowe said.
The measure received bipartisan legislative support.
The Senate initially approved the legislation February 3 by a 46–1 vote. The House passed an amended version October 19 by a 141–62 margin, and the Senate concurred October 21 by a 47–3 vote.
Sen. Devlin Robinson sponsored the bill, which makes Pennsylvania one of more than two dozen states to enact restrictions on student cellphone use during the school day.
Supporters argue that limiting access to phones will reduce classroom distractions and encourage face-to-face interaction.
Central Bucks Superintendent Joanna Wexler said schools have spent years addressing the challenges posed by personal devices and will need continued engagement with students, parents and staff as restrictions take effect.
The legislation shifts responsibility for implementation to local education officials, who must establish practical procedures for storing devices, communicating during emergencies and responding to violations.
For Chester County schools, those decisions will unfold through local policy development ahead of the 2027–28 school year, when the statewide prohibition becomes mandatory.
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