Steele: Educators, experts explain benefits of restricting cell phones in schools
H.B. 1814 would prohibit student phone use during school day
Allegheny County Delegation November 17, 2025 | 4:26 PM
HARRISBURG, Nov. 17 — Two House committees heard testimony today from several educators and experts who explained the benefits of restricting cell phone use in schools, according to state Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny.
At a joint hearing today before the House Education and Health committees, educators and experts detailed the academic, emotional, social and safety benefits of restricting cell phones in schools.
“Without phones as a distraction, students are more focused and present,” said Lisa Graham, school counselor at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School.
Steele has introduced H.B. 1814, bipartisan legislation that would prohibit students in public schools from using or possessing a cell phone during the school day. Students would be required to secure their phones in a way that prevents access until the end of the day, with exceptions for certain emergency and medical needs approved by school authorities.
While some Pennsylvania schools have enacted their own policies to limit phone use, Steele’s bill would create a statewide standard that can be consistently enforced.
At Seneca Valley, a “bell-to-bell” phone ban was implemented this year, and the results have been “overwhelmingly positive,” Graham said. Students are improving academically and interacting better, and school officials see fewer conflicts and less bullying, she said.
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“This is such an important issue, and a growing concern for many educators and parents. As a parent myself, I’m certain that it’s time for us to tackle it, especially with support on both sides of the aisle and so much evidence about the benefits from educators and experts.” – Rep. Mandy Steele
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Dr. Mitch Prinstein, chief of psychology for the American Psychological Association, said device use contributes to pyschological problems and leads to poor academic achievement, both for the student using the device and the student sitting behind them. Yet high schoolers report using their phones as much as 20 minutes per hour during the school day, predominantly for social media and AI platforms, he said.
“Youth themselves know that they are using devices too much and are now experiencing what scientists refer to as digital stress,” Prinstein said.
Dr. Beth J. Sanborn, president of the Pennsylvania Association of School Resource Officers, said restricting phone use during the day makes schools safer.
Sanborn said students sometimes use their phones to continue arguments or plan fights. In an emergency, she said, access to phones makes it harder for students to focus on emergency plans and instructions from school staff.
“In crisis situations, cell phones create chaos,” Sanborn said.
Steele thanked committee chairs Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, of the Education Committee, and Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, of the Health Committee for hosting an informative and thoughtful discussion on the issue and said she’s hopeful it will help raise awareness of the benefits of restricting phone use in schools.
“This is such an important issue, and a growing concern for many educators and parents,” Steele said. “As a parent myself, I’m certain that it’s time for us to tackle it, especially with support on both sides of the aisle and so much evidence about the benefits from educators and experts.”
If H.B. 1814 is enacted, Pennsylvania would join 22 other states that prohibit students from possessing phones during the school day.
Steele’s bill is pending in the House Education Committee.