Illinois Implements Statewide School Cellphone Ban
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Illinois Implements Statewide School Cellphone Ban
- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, requiring all public school districts to implement policies banning student cell phone use during school hours by the 2027-2028 academic year.
- This new law, championed by State Senator Cristina Castro, aims to reduce distractions and improve student engagement in classrooms, with a Pew Research study indicating that 72% of high school teachers view cell phone distraction as a major issue.
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Illinois is taking a significant step to address student distractions with a new law that mandates a statewide ban on cell phone use in public schools during school hours. Governor JB Pritzker signed the legislation on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Elgin High School, which already has a similar policy in place.
The new law requires all of Illinois’ approximately 850 public school districts to establish “bell-to-bell” policies by the 2027-2028 school year, restricting the use of cellphones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices, smartwatches, and other mobile devices. For students in kindergarten through eighth grade, the ban will be comprehensive, covering class time, lunch, and passing periods. High school students will have more flexibility, with districts having the option to permit phone use during lunch and breaks between classes.
The legislation includes several exceptions, such as for school-issued devices used for educational purposes with teacher approval, medical necessities, individualized education programs (IEPs), language translation for English language learners, and for students who are caregivers. Importantly, the law prohibits schools from enforcing these bans through fines, fees, suspensions, expulsions, ticketing, or the deployment of police officers or school resource officers. Instead, schools are required to establish guidelines for storing student devices to prevent use, loss, or theft.
The Illinois State Board of Education is expected to release a template policy on September 1, 2026, to guide districts in developing their own specific policies. Districts are encouraged to involve teachers, administrators, parents, and even students in the policy-making process. This move makes Illinois one of the states with a statewide framework for restricting cellphone use in schools, aiming to foster more engaging learning environments and improve student focus.