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Pennsylvania Enacts Statewide School Cellphone Ban

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed legislation establishing a statewide ban on cellphones in K-12 public schools. The policy prohibits student cellphone use during school hours to reduce distractions. It applies uniformly across the state.

Key Points

  • Governor Josh Shapiro signed the cellphone ban into law on October 26, 2026.
  • The measure creates a uniform statewide prohibition on cellphones in public schools.
  • The policy targets K-12 education settings to limit device access during instructional time.

Implications for Educational Freedom

The statewide mandate overrides local district authority on device policies, reducing variation in school rules. It limits parental discretion regarding student access to phones for safety or communication. This represents centralized policy control rather than school-level or family-driven decisions on technology use.

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