Illinois Enacts Statewide Ban on Student Devices in Schools

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, establishing a statewide requirement for public schools to restrict student use of cellphones and other personal electronic devices during the school day. The new law mandates that all school districts adopt a "bell-to-bell" policy prohibiting device use from the first arrival bell to final dismissal before the start of the 2027-2028 academic year.

The governor signed the bill, Senate Bill 2427, at Elgin High School, stating the goal is to eliminate classroom distractions and allow students and teachers to focus on learning. Officials cited concerns over student distraction, cyberbullying, and the mental health impacts of social media as key drivers for the policy. While many districts already have similar rules, the law creates a uniform baseline across the state.

The legislation broadly restricts personal wireless communication devices, including cellphones, laptops, tablets, gaming devices, and smartwatches. It does not apply to school-issued devices used for educational purposes. Districts are required to make exceptions for medical needs, special education purposes, language translation for English...