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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/23/2024 03:23 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?Chamber=H&SPick=20210&cosponId=37351
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House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: May 19, 2022 01:38 PM
From: Representative Anthony M. DeLuca
To: All House members
Subject: Cell Phones in Schools
 
In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation which would prohibit cell phone use by students in our schools. School districts will be able to develop a policy on their own, subject to approval by the Department of Education. 
 
Recently, Penn Hills School District, in my hometown, began a pilot program at Linton Middle School banning cell phones, with positive results in student engagement and in school culture. Students dropped their phones off in special locked boxes during homeroom and retrieved them at the end of the day. 
 
Penn Hills High School will be implementing a similar policy this fall. Students will keep the phones with them, but will be using locking cases made by a company called Yondr. The cases close with a lock that can only be released with a mechanism similar to the device that removes clothing tags in stores. Students lock their devices in the case before coming to school and can unlock them at exit points on the way out of the building. Yondr cases have been used in schools, courtrooms, concert venues, and other locations around the country since 2014 and have proven to be highly successful. Both the Linton Middle School program and the Penn Hills High School program would be permitted under this legislation. 
 
Studies in the U.S., Spain, and Norway have all shown a positive impact on academic achievement when cell phones are prohibited during the school day. With smartphone technology becoming more addicting, and with social media having a toxic impact on the mental health of young people, I believe we should not permit the use of such devices in schools. This bill will allow students to be focused on their education without the distractions that come with cell phones. 

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. 


Introduced as HB2746