Overview
- The governor unveiled legislation requiring every public district and charter to adopt policies restricting cell phones and other wireless devices throughout the entire school day.
- Carveouts include emergencies, documented medical needs, Individualized Education Program or 504 accommodations, English-learner access, and circumstances in which a student is a caregiver.
- Districts could also permit high school access during lunch or allow teacher-approved educational use at local discretion.
- The bill would prohibit enforcement through fines, suspensions, expulsions, ticketing or police involvement, and it directs districts to establish secure-storage guidelines after consulting teachers, administrators and parents.
- Pritzker revived the effort after a narrower Senate-passed measure stalled in the House last year, citing classroom distraction and a Pew finding that 72% of high school teachers call phones a major problem.