Massachusetts Moves Towards K-12 Ban on Cell Phone Use

The debate over restricting or outright banning cell phone use by public school students during the school day intensified recently, with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell calling for a "bell-to-bell" ban on cell phone use and State Senate President Karen Spilka suggesting an all-out ban on the devices during school hours.

Several Massachusetts school districts have adopted policies regarding cell phone use, including New Bedford.

READ MORE: New Bedford Bans Cell Phones in Schools

Some parents are concerned that their children would be unreachable without their phones, and that students would be unable to contact their parents in an emergency.

Supporters of tougher cell phone restrictions say the devices are disruptive and allow for opportunities for students to cheat.

Quincy State Senator John Keenan told a recent legislative committee hearing, "Experts call screens 'electric cocaine.'"

State House News Service reported that Sen. Keenan urged the panel to quickly advance a bill that "reflects what needs to be done to protect children in classrooms and promote a better education."

"State Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler declared 'strong support' Tuesday for legislation (H 666 / S 335) that would both require Massachusetts public schools to prohibit students from using cell phones and other smart devices during the school day and also implement significant new guardrails around social media use by minors, including at home," according to SHNS.

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Tutwiler testified that parents, caregivers, students, teachers, and "school leaders across the state" concur that cell phones aren't just a distraction, but are "contributing to the rise of anxiety, depression, and disengagement among students."

Ballotpedia reported that "Twenty states, as of May 14, banned or limited cellphone use in K-12 classrooms. At least 11 states enacted cell phone bans or limits so far in 2025."