Last July, the Massachusetts Senate passed a bill mandating a cell phone ban in all Massachusetts schools by fall of 2026.
The phone ban act, officially known as the Safe Technology Use and Distraction-Free Education for Youth Act or “STUDY Act,” was introduced by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Cambell, Senator Julian Cyr, Representative Alice Peisch, and Representative Kate Kipper-Garabedian. The bill passed 38-2 and after being passed to the House Ways and Means, is now under consideration.
At SHS, cell phone use is not currently allowed within classrooms, although there are no restrictions during lunch and passing times. If this bill were to be passed, SHS would become completely cellphone free.
Sharon School Committee members have expressed support for the bill. “I believe that a bell-to-bell phone ban is a good policy decision supported by studies in the UK, Spain, and the Nordic countries. These studies also showed a larger impact from a bell-to-bell ban compared to less restrictive options,” said member Jeremy Kay. The options Kay referred to include SHS’ current system, where students are required to place their phones in caddies at the beginning of every class.
School Committee member Georgeann Lewis also believed in the benefits removing cell phones will provide. “Cell phones disrupt and distract from learning,” said Lewis. “In their absence, students will be less distracted and [more] focused on schoolwork.”
On the other hand, some community members think that the ban is too harsh unnecacary and that the current system is performing well. David Heller, an English teacher at SHS, said, “[The current phone regulations have] been very successful… I remember what life was like just a couple years ago when we didn’t have it, and it was a constant battle to keep students focused.”
Although the bill would create a mostly phone-free school, it includes exemptions for medical purposes, travel communication, education plans, and disability support. Additionally, each district would need a way for students to communicate with family members, like providing a phone in the main office.
With the possibility of a ban on this scale, teachers have questioned the presence of other distracting items such as smartphones, computers, and earbuds. Heller said, “I don’t even like consistent access to laptops, unless you have to do a specific task with technology.”
The bill would allow districts to create their own rules on the ban, as long as it removes phones from schools. Subsequently, some teachers are concerned about the enforcement of the bill. Physics teacher David Accardi raised these concerns when he asked, “Schools will comply, of course… [but] how well can they even enforce it?”
The decision seems to have elicited a mixed response from teachers and committee members. With the bill entering the House, its outcome remains uncertain, with the date of voting to be determined as of Janurary 7th, 2026.
