A phone holder hangs in a classroom at Delta High School, on Feb. 23, 2024, in Delta, Utah, at a rural school, where there is a strict policy requiring students to check their phones at the door when entering every class.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday called for a statewide ban on cellphones in classrooms with the goal of improving student achievement, social interaction and the mental health of public school students.
“Improving the classroom environment and limiting distractions is vital to student achievement, and in conversations with educators and parents around this state, there is one thing they commonly cite as an impediment to learning in the classroom: cellphones,” Pritzker said during his annual State of the State and budget address.
“Furthermore, cyberbullying has expanded at alarming rates, and it’s time for Illinois to take measures to protect our kids.”
Legislation introduced in both houses of the General Assembly would require school districts to set policies that ban personal wireless devices during class time, with notable exceptions, create a means for secure but accessible storage of phones and tablets, and review those guidelines at least every three years.
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The legislation, which would require policies be in place by the 2026-2027 school year, has enough flexibility in the plan to allow school districts to develop a policy that best suits them.
Eight states have policies that ban or limit schoolhouse cellphone use. Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio. Iowa, Kentucky and Michigan are among the 15 states where bans or other restrictions have been proposed.
The Pew Research Center has found that seven in 10 high school teachers in the U.S. consider cellphone distraction a major classroom problem.
Pritzker’s idea is to ban wireless devices during instructional periods unless there is an emergency or a need to respond to a threat. They would also be allowed when a teacher approves their use, when a physician deems it essential for a student, for an individual special education plan or to help English learners.
“More focus on learning will bring even greater success for kids across the state,” Pritzker said.
