Local public school districts will need to prepare for a new statewide ban on student cellphone use under legislation recently approved by Illinois lawmakers.
At the end of the General Assembly’s spring session in May, legislators passed a bill prohibiting students from using cellphones during the school day at public and charter schools in most situations.
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Gov. JB Pritzker has endorsed the measure and is expected to sign it into law. The new requirements would take effect for the 2027-28 school year.
The legislation includes a “bell-to-bell” prohibition for elementary and middle school students. High school students could be allowed to use cell phones during lunch periods or other breaks if their school district permits it.
“Every parent and educator knows the damage that unchecked screen time and social media can do to our children and how disruptive they can be in school,” Pritzker said in a statement. “The bipartisan support for this effort reflects the urgency educators and families across Illinois feel.”
Lake Bluff School District 65 Superintendent Lisa Leali said she supports the intent of the legislation and noted that the district has already taken steps to limit cellphone use.
She said the district’s two schools began implementing policies to reduce student screen time after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I don’t think it is going to have a huge impact on us directly, but I think it is a great message to send because they are distracting and not helpful,” Leali said.
Leali added District 65 will review its policies to ensure they comply with the state’s requirements.
“We will look at what the requirements are and make sure we are in alignment,” she said.
Under current District 65 policies, elementary and middle school students are not allowed to use cellphones in classrooms and are expected to keep them in lockers or cubbies during the school day. Leali said middle school students also periodically participate in “no-tech” lunches designed to encourage face-to-face interaction.
Leali acknowledged that smart watches have presented an additional challenge for school personnel.
The legislation includes exceptions for students whose devices are required under an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, and in certain other circumstances.
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Leali said families who need to contact students during the school day are encouraged to do so through the school’s main office.
Representatives of Lake Forest School District 67 and Lake Forest High School District 115 were unavailable for comment. However, a district spokeswoman provided information about the schools’ current policies.
At District 67, students are generally prohibited from using cellphones unless a teacher grants permission, the use is required under an individualized education plan, the device is used during lunch periods, or an emergency situation exists.
At Lake Forest High School, cellphones and related electronic devices are prohibited during instructional time unless permission is granted by a teacher. Upon entering a classroom, students are required to place their phones in a designated storage area and put away other electronic devices, including earbuds.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.