Overview
- The Maryland House of Delegates, which voted Tuesday, advanced a bill that would require districts to keep students’ personal devices out of use from first bell to last starting in the 2027–28 school year.
- A companion measure already passed the Senate, and each bill must clear the opposite chamber before going to Gov. Wes Moore for possible signature.
- Local school boards would decide how to enforce the limits, and the policies would also block student access to social media during school hours.
- The proposal covers phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, wireless earbuds, and headphones, with use allowed only for emergencies, health needs, instruction, or language translation.
- Superintendents object to a state mandate on local policy even as many Maryland districts already restrict devices and 36 states plus D.C. have similar limits.