Take Action
Here’s what you can do right now.
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 spend billions on educational technology — but are our kids actually learning more? Parents deserve a real say in how technology is used in their child's education, from screen time in kindergarten to AI tools in high school. Here's how to push for change.
Tell us what's happening in your school.
We're building a first-of-its-kind public dashboard showing how PA parents feel about ed tech in their schools — broken down by district. The more families who respond, the stronger the data.
It takes 5 minutes. Your district's results will be public — and will help us push for better policy statewide.
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.
Ready to take it to your school board?
Our Ed Tech Advocacy Guide gives you everything you need: what questions to ask, what good ed tech policy actually looks like, and how to have a productive conversation with your school — whether you're a first-time attendee or a veteran board meeting regular.
Key actions we urge all coalition members to take.
Join thousands of Pennsylvania families.
The PA Unplugged Commitment is a pledge to raise kids with healthier relationships with technology — delaying smartphones, limiting social media, supporting phone-free schools, and making space for real-world childhood.
No judgment. No perfection required. Just a community of families trying to do right by their kids.
Already signed? Find families in your district:
Unplugged Families
Please select a school district above to see families in your area.
2. Contact House Leadership & Education Committee Leads
Email House Leadership: They control what bills are brought up for committee discussion and ultimately up for a vote.
Joanna McClinton (Majority Head of House Dems)
Peter Schweyer (Head of House Education Committee)
Spread the word — Encourage friends, teachers, and local parent groups to do the same. Every email and call adds up.
3. Sign and share our petition.
Click the button below to sign our Change.org petition. Show the PA Legislature that there is broad support for removing smartphones from the learning environment during the school day.