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Gov. Shapiro went to Central Bucks to sign the school cell phone ban

At Lenape Middle School, the Democratic governor said students "need to spend less time focused on their phones, and a whole lot more time focused on learning."

Gov. Josh Shapiro, pictured speaking with reporters in South Philadelphia on Sept. 25, visited Lenape Middle School in Central Bucks Monday to sign a school cell phone ban into law.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, pictured speaking with reporters in South Philadelphia on Sept. 25, visited Lenape Middle School in Central Bucks Monday to sign a school cell phone ban into law.Read moreAidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer

Gov. Josh Shapiro went to Bucks County Monday to sign a law banning cell phones in all K-12 schools, starting in the 2027-2028 year.

At Lenape Middle School in the Central Bucks School District, the Democratic governor touted the new law — which requires schools to enact policies prohibiting the use of cell phones from the start of the school day to the end — as needed to “get the distractions out of our classrooms.”

“I think students need to spend less time focused on their phones, and a whole lot more time focused on learning,” said Shapiro, who was joined by Central Bucks Superintendent Joanna Wexler.

Pennsylvania is the latest state to pass a school cell phone ban, amid a wave of pushback to technology use in classrooms. The bill passed the legislature with bipartisan support, and the backing of Pennsylvania’s largest teachers union.

But many school districts have been hesitant to adopt bell-to-bell bans, with some citing enforcement concerns.

» READ MORE: Pa. students soon won’t be able to use cell phones in school. Here’s what to know about the ban.

Shapiro said Monday that the law leaves it up to schools to decide the best way to implement the ban, and also noted it contains exemptions, including for students with medical needs and English learners.

Asked about parents and students concerned about being able to reach each other directly during an emergency, Shapiro said schools would have to communicate with parents about ways to reach their kids during the school day.

“We shouldn’t accept the idea that a cell phone is going to make a kid safer,” Shapiro said. “What we need to do is get the guns out of the hands of those people who shouldn’t have them.”

The bill signing came eight days before the Nov. 3 election, as Shapiro seeks a second term and Democrats vie to take control of a divided Harrisburg.

Shapiro, who was joined by State Sen. Steve Santarsiero and Rep. Tim Brennan, both Bucks County Democrats, used the Lenape visit to tout his education record, citing increased public education funding and new stipends for student teachers.

    Maddie Hanna
    I'm a reporter covering K-12 education. I focus on the Philadelphia suburbs — covering schools in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties — and statewide education policy issues, including school funding and charter schools.