Illinois Senate Passes Bill To Ban Cell Phones In Classrooms

Banning the use of cellphones in K-12 classrooms or various other school settings is not a new idea, but it most certainly is an idea that's gaining traction across the United States, Illinois included.

The first attempts at banning devices in classrooms goes all the way back to the 80s, when students began bringing in pagers in growing numbers, which educators correctly assumed would lead to classroom disruptions and lowered academic achievements.

Then, cellphones, followed by smartphones, came along and made the situation a lot worse in classrooms. Now it's gotten to the point where nearly every state is looking at and for solutions to the classroom cellphone problem, including here in Illinois.

As Of April 1st Of This Year, 17 States Have Put In Place Policies Or Laws On The Use Of Cellphones In K-12 Classrooms

Of those 17 states, eleven of them have put in outright bans or limits on cellphone use in the classroom setting. Those states are:

• Arkansas
• Ohio
• California
• Florida
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Utah

Now, our state of Illinois has jumped into the mix with the passing of Illinois Senate Bill 2427 (SB2427). This bill passed unanimously out of the Illinois Senate and now moves to the Illinois House for further consideration. The bill also has the support of the governor, who said he'll sign it if and when it lands on his desk.

Let's Take A Look At What The Illinois Bills Says About Banning Cellphones In The Classroom

There are several levels to the proposed classroom cellphone ban in Illinois, and here are some of them:

• SB 2427 would require Illinois school districts to set policies banning wireless devices including cell phones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices, and smart watches during class time by the 2026-2027 school year, and provide secure but accessible storage of phones and tablets.
• There are exceptions to the ban for devices that are required for educational purposes, if a doctor deems one necessary for a specific student, if devices are needed as part of a student's individualized education program or to help students for whom English is a second language.
• There is also an "emergency use" exception, which means students could use their devices in the event of school emergency, or if a student's health and safety are threatened.

WGNTV.com:

Advocates for the bill said keeping cell phones out of classrooms will keep students engaged and more prepared for tests and future studies.

“This legislation takes social media out of the classroom so students can focus on what’s important: learning,” said State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), the chief sponsor of the bill. “This measure sets a standard to limit cellphone use during class time but prioritizes flexibility, letting schools take the lead in deciding how it should be implemented in their local community.”