Pennsylvania’s New School Cell Phone Ban: What Parents Need to Know

By Robert Gavin, Esq., CGA Law Firm 

Short answer: On October 26, 2026, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 1014, requiring every Pennsylvania school to adopt a “bell-to-bell” policy banning student cell phone use for the entire school day. Schools must have their policies in place by the start of the 2027–2028 school year. The law includes required exceptions for students with medical needs, IEPs, 504 plans, and English learners. Parents who want those exceptions for their child should start planning now.

What does SB 1014 require?

Under the new law, each school’s governing body must adopt a policy that prohibits students from using personal mobile devices during the school day while on school property, and that sets out how possession of those devices will be restricted.

“School day” is defined broadly. It covers all instructional and non-instructional time, including homeroom, lunch, recess, and time moving between classes. That is what makes the policy “bell-to-bell.”

The law also covers more than phones. A “mobile device” includes tablets and other internet-capable personal devices used to call, text, take photos, record, game, or watch video. Medical devices are excluded, as are dual-use watches with Wi-Fi and data turned off.

Which schools does it apply to?

The law applies broadly: public school districts, charter and cyber charter schools, intermediate units, career and technical schools, and private and nonpublic schools operating in Pennsylvania.

What exceptions must schools allow?

Every school’s policy must include exceptions for a student who:

1. Has a documented medical need. The student needs a device because of a medical condition, documented by a medical provider, of the student or an immediate family member.
2. Has an IEP or 504 plan that lists a mobile device as an accommodation or service.
3. Is an English learner who uses a device for translation or ESL purposes.
4. Has teacher permission for a specific educational purpose, but only when a school-issued device won’t work, the principal approves, and the use is limited rather than a regular part of instruction.

Schools may also let a principal approve a one-day exception for other situations.

How will parents reach their child?

At the start of each school year and upon enrollment, schools must tell parents in writing how to contact their child during the school day, such as a school phone line or email address, and that contact method must be staffed throughout the day. Schools must also explain how to sign up for emergency notifications.

Can the school take my child’s phone?

The law does not require schools to confiscate phones, but it allows it. If a school’s policy permits staff to hold a device, the school and its employees are not liable for loss or damage as long as staff acted in good faith under the policy. Parents should read their school’s policy carefully to understand where devices will be stored and what happens if one is lost.

What should parents do now?

• If your child relies on a phone for health reasons (for example, a continuous glucose monitor app, seizure alerts, or a family member’s medical condition), gather medical documentation now and request the exception in writing.
• If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, ask for a team meeting to decide whether device access should be written into the plan before the 2027-2028 school year. If it isn’t in the plan, the exception doesn’t apply.
• If your child is disciplined under a phone policy, know that students with disabilities keep their protections under federal law, including limits on suspensions and the right to a manifestation determination in some cases.
• Watch for your district’s draft policy. Policies must be posted on the school’s website, and many boards will take comments before adopting them.

Frequently asked questions

When does Pennsylvania’s school phone ban take effect? The law took effect when signed on October 26, 2026. Schools must adopt compliant policies no later than the start of the 2027–2028 school year.

Does the phone ban apply to private schools in Pennsylvania? Yes. The law applies to private and nonpublic schools as well as public, charter, and cyber charter schools.

Can my child keep a phone for a medical condition? Yes, if the condition is documented by a medical provider. The exception also covers medical conditions of an immediate family member.

Can a phone be added to my child’s IEP or 504 plan? Yes. If the IEP or 504 team agrees a mobile device is a needed accommodation or service, the school’s policy must allow it.

Talk to a Pennsylvania education lawyer

CGA Law Firm represents families across Pennsylvania in special education, 504 plans, school discipline, and other education law matters. If you have questions about how SB 1014 affects your child, or if your school is refusing an accommodation, contact us by calling (717) 848-4900 to schedule a consultation.

This article provides general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is different; consult an attorney about your specific circumstances.