Pennsylvania Governor has signed into law a measure from Senate Bill 700 that restricts students’ cellphone use during school hours. The law includes a $100 million pilot program providing grants for schools to purchase lockable smartphone bags. Schools adopting an official policy against cellphone use can receive grants of $100,000, with varying amounts for different educational institutions. Senator Ryan Aument, who championed the proposal, cited concerns over smartphones’ impact on children’s mental health and academic performance, aiming to reduce distractions and improve learning environments. He intends to pursue a statewide ban on smartphone use during school hours in the future.
