R.I. poised to ban cellphones in schools

Boston Globe

17-06-2025

If signed into law, it won't go into effect until Aug. 1, 2026, giving districts a full school year to come up with their policies.
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A growing number of states and school districts have been restricting the use of smart phones in school, citing the intense distraction they cause, bullying concerns, and seeking to encourage more in-person social interaction.
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Reports of cyberbullying in middle schools are on the rise since the pandemic, according to the
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Governor Dan McKee's office did not immediately say Monday night if he would sign the bill, but the legislation received veto-proof majorities in both chambers. (The House and Senate still must pass each other's identical bills before sending to McKee's desk.)
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Multiple school districts have already chosen to ban cellphones in school. Central Falls was among the first in Rhode Island to lock up the phones in Yondr pouches all day, keeping school phone-free from 'bell-to-bell.' South Kingstown implemented a similar pouch system this past school year, and some Providence schools use them as well.
Others are more flexible. The Globe reported last year that Lincoln High School
The bill allows exceptions for medical needs, such a student with diabetes who uses a smart phone for glucose monitoring, or a student with disabilities who uses adaptive technology. Exceptions can also be made 'in case of emergency,' the bill says.
Many schools provide Chromebooks to students, so they will still have access to technology for class purposes.
Both major teachers unions in Rhode Island supported the legislation. Teachers have long lamented being enforcers of cellphone policies, especially if they had to take phones away.
'In the post-pandemic world, many students are still grappling with the overstimulation caused by constant digital interaction,' Maribeth Calabro, the president of the American Federal of Teachers Rhode Island, wrote in testimony urging lawmakers to pass the legislation. 'Banning cell phones can help mitigate these issues by removing the temptation to check notifications, social media, or games during class, fostering better concentration.'
Some school leaders said the lack of statewide guidance was making it harder for schools to tackle the pervasive cellphone issue.
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'The absence of statewide standards or expectations places a significant burden on local districts, often leading to inconsistent enforcement, pushback from families, and a lack of clarity for students and staff alike,' said Jared Vance, the principal at Rogers High School in Newport, in testimony in support of the bill.
When the Globe
The ACLU of Rhode Island testified with privacy concerns, prompting lawmakers to amend the bill to add that school officials cannot search the contents of a device they confiscate.
The Rhode Island Department of Education, which has never issued guidance about cellphones, was in support of the legislation, spokesperson Victor Morente said, 'underscoring the important of flexibility for districts.'
Arguing in favor of the bill Monday night, Education Committee Chairman Joseph McNamara said schools that have implemented phone bans report 'students are talking to each other and listening to each other' again.
'As an educator who was involved in the transition before and after cellphones came into play, I can personally attest to the fact that they negatively changed the climate in our schools,' McNamara said.
Steph Machado can be reached at