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40 states have done it. Let's make sure Pennsylvania is next.
40 states have passed legislation limiting or restricting phone use during the school day — 20 of them with full bell-to-bell policies. Every single law has passed with bipartisan support.
Pennsylvania is close. SB1014 (the Phone-Free Schools Act) passed the Senate 46–1. It's up to the PA House now, and time is running out to get the law to the Governor's desk.
The time is now. Your rep needs to hear from you.
💬 Talking Points — click to expand
Research shows that the mere presence of a phone reduces cognitive capacity and focus. It takes the brain over 23 minutes to refocus after each distraction.
72% of high school teachers say phones are a major distraction in class. Students receive an average of 237 notifications per day, many during school hours. In schools without restrictions, the average student spends 1.5 hours on their phone during the school day.
Polls from the National Education Association show over 80% of educators favor phone-free school days. When phones are off and away, teachers regain valuable instructional time and report higher morale.
Teens who spend 3+ hours per day on social media face double the risk of depression and anxiety. Phone-free schools give kids seven hours a day free from social media pressure and constant comparison.
Schools that go phone-free report more engaged, lively hallways and lunchrooms. Kids talk, laugh, and build friendships instead of scrolling. Watch here.
Security experts agree that phones make students less safe in emergencies by:
- Distracting them from following safety instructions
- Lighting up and revealing hiding spots
- Flooding communication channels and confusing emergency responders
When students aren't constantly messaging parents, they learn to navigate small challenges independently — building confidence and problem-solving skills that carry into adulthood.
Phone use in school environments affects everyone — not just the kids with devices. Like secondhand smoke, distraction and drama spill over.
Schools that have bell-to-bell phone policies have seen drops in bullying, fights, and privacy violations.
Phones aren't the only issue in our classrooms.
Pennsylvania schools have invested millions in educational technology. Whether that investment is improving student learning remains an open question. The evidence points toward a simpler conclusion: most students learn best through analog methods -- reading physical books and writing on paper.
Want to push for change in your child's school? We've developed three resources to help: a statewide survey on school technology use, a public dashboard of results, and an advocacy guide for parents who want to act on what they find.
Share your experience.
We're conducting a survey to understand how parents and caregivers across Pennsylvania feel about technology and screen time in schools.
Every community is different, and families bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives. This survey is designed to capture that diversity. Your responses will help us build a public dashboard where you can explore and compare feedback across school districts throughout the state. The goal is to give families, educators, and policymakers a clearer picture of how communities are thinking about these important issues.The survey takes about 5 minutes, and is available in Spanish.
Have a specific experience with school technology to share? The survey includes an optional section to tell your story. With your permission, it may be shared anonymously with the EdTech Law Center.
See what parents in your district are saying.
The results are in. Browse the public dashboard to see how parents across Pennsylvania feel about screen time & technology use in their child's school, broken down by district.
Ready to advocate for change?
Access our interactive advocacy guide and get a personalized action plan — including a downloadable PDF and draft emails — in about 10 minutes.
Key actions we urge all coalition members to take.
Take the PA Unplugged Commitment
Parenting in the digital age is harder when you feel like you're doing it alone. Join hundreds of Pennsylvania families who are committing to delay smartphones until at least 9th grade, hold off on social media until at least 16, and support phone-free schools.