Pritzker gets his school cell phone ban bill despite CTU opposition

The issue was a priority for the governor. Here’s what you need to know.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign a bill aimed at prohibiting most student cell phone use class, a priority issue for him.

While Senate Bill 2427 passed both the state House and Senate, it faces opposition from the Chicago Teachers Union.

The CTU claims the limit will prevent kids from making calls when they feel threatened and that it places a burden on teachers. The union’s position shows a lack of understanding of the bill does. Here’s what you need to know about SB 2427:

What does the bill say?

Beginning on or before the 2027-2028 school year, a school board must adopt and implement a policy that “at a minimum prohibits a student from using a wireless communication device during school time.”

The bill leaves room for school districts to determine how the policy is structured and enforced. In fact, it allows districts to exclude lunch and passing periods from the definition of “school time” for high school students.

What devices are prohibited?

The bill considers cell phones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices and smart watches a “wireless communication device.” Devices a district provides to students and teachers are not included.

What is considered ‘school time’?

“School time” is defined as “the time students spend on a school campus during the regular school day,” from the start through dismissal times for students, “including instructional time, recess, lunch, and passing periods.”

Activities before and after school are not included.

Are there exceptions?

Yes. Devices cannot be prohibited under circumstances including:

• In the case of emergency events.
• If a licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner determines the device is necessary to manage a student’s health.
• To fulfill an individualized education program.
• If necessary for students who are English learners, essentially meaning those who have trouble with English.

Have other states implemented similar rules?

Illinois is in the minority of states that have not implemented school cell phone laws.

Are cell phone rules effective?

Schools with cell phone bans have reported fewer behavioral problems, reduced bullying, and improved classroom engagement, according to a study by Paragon Health Institute. Studies in the United Kingdom have found that school cell phone limits can improve standardized test scores. In Florida, a study of one large district found a score increase of 2 to 3 percentile points on average after two years of prohibiting cell phone use in classrooms.

Cell phone bans can bring challenges. The Florida study found higher levels of behavioral problems and suspensions, mostly affecting Black and male middle and high school students.

While acknowledging that “phones can be distracting,” the CTU opposes the measure because phones can be “lifelines for students” who fear immigration enforcement. But that’s arguably covered by one of the exceptions districts can detail in their emergency and crisis response plans.

The union also called the bill itself a distraction, that noting managing phones already “is part of the daily work” of educators.

With just 2-in-5 Chicago Public Schools students reading at grade level and about 1-in-4 doing math proficiently, maybe the CTU shouldn’t get distracted itself by a cell phone law.