Pritzker targeting phone usage in school
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois public school students may no longer have their cell phones on them when they start school in 2026.
At the State of the State, Governor J.B. Pritzker said he is championing a bill to ban cellphone usage in classrooms.
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'In conversations with educators and parents around the state – there is one thing they commonly cite as an impediment to learning in the classroom: cell phones,' Pritzker said in his speech Wednesday. 'Furthermore, cyber bullying has expanded at alarming rates, and it's time for Illinois to take measures to protect our kids.'
Momentum to separate students from their cell phones grew last summer with several large school districts across the nation adopting new policies. Some school districts in Central Illinois that changed their phone usage rules in the classroom last summer include Decatur and Springfield.
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Leaders who represent teachers and paraprofessionals appreciate the governor embracing the issue.
'Tackling student cell phone use in schools is crucial to improved student learning,' Illinois Federation of Teachers president Dan Montgomery said. 'While some districts have their own policies, statewide guidance would provide much-needed consistency.'
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The bill allows school districts time to implement a plan, as it would not go into effect until the 2026-2027 school year.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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