Illinois Governor Pushes for School Cellphone Ban
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has renewed his push for a statewide ban on cellphones in schools, citing concerns over student distraction and behavioral issues. The proposed policy could change the support landscape for students with ADHD, potentially limiting access to digital accommodations while also reducing distractions.
- The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 2427, would require all Illinois school districts to adopt a policy by the 2026-2027 school year to limit the use of wireless communication devices "bell to bell." - The bill includes specific carve-outs allowing students to use a device if it is part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP), deemed a medical necessity by a physician, or needed by English language learners. - This represents Governor Pritzker's second attempt at such a policy; a similar measure was unanimously approved by the state Senate in the previous session but ultimately stalled in the House. - If passed, Illinois would join a significant national trend; as of early 2026, at least 32 states had already enacted laws or policies to ban or limit student cellphone use in classrooms. - Enforcement of the proposed ban could not include fines, fees, suspensions, or the involvement of school resource officers, and districts would be required to get input from parents and teachers when creating their specific policies. - Research cited in support of such bans includes a study finding that schools with cellphone prohibitions saw the test scores of 16-year-old students increase by 6.4% of a standard deviation. - A study of Florida's 2023 statewide ban found that schools enforcing it saw a reduction in unexcused absences and modest gains in test scores, though there was an initial increase in disciplinary incidents in the first year. - The governor's office has cited a Pew Research study indicating that 72% of high school teachers view cellphone distraction as a "major problem" in their classrooms.
