Shapiro signs Pennsylvania school cell phone ban into law

Now to a new law in Pennsylvania to ensure students learn without distractions. Today, Governor Josh Shapiro signed the bell-to-bell cell phone ban law. A lot of attention around this. It will go into effect next school year, getting school administrators trying to figure out how they're going to handle this no cell phone use law. Action News reporter Corey Davis was there when the governor put pen to paper in Doylestown today. Corey, you've got the details. Yeah, Brian and Sarah, good afternoon. And with this, a lot of school districts will have the flexibility to create their own procedures for how these cell phones will not be used in Pennsylvania schools. But experts do say that these school districts will have to really figure out how to help students who have become almost inseparable from their phones. Now it is law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Starting next school year, no cell phones allowed in Pennsylvania schools from the first bell to the final dismissal bell. Get the distractions out of our classrooms. Governor Josh Shapiro signed the bill into law today at Lenape Middle School in Doylestown. It's been really, really great for our kids. The Central Bucks School District already had a cell phone ban for the past two years. Being able to really disconnect from the digital world has done a lot for me. No cell phones in the classroom during lunch, at recess, or in the halls. The expectation is that they're off and away and that they stay in the locker. School districts will have flexibility on how to store the phones, whether it be putting phones in lockers, pouches, or designated storage areas. They'll also have to create an emergency notification procedure and security contact plan to help ease any concerns. So that parents know how to get in touch with their kids should, God forbid, there be an emergency. Some parents say they're seeing several benefits. Educational, but also just for their mental health and their ability to build relationships with other kids. This is massive. I mean, this is freedom for students from addictive algorithms. It's going to be very interesting to see how the schools adjust and adapt. Dr. Elizabeth Dowdell, professor of nursing at Villanova University, studies the impacts of technology and says school districts will have to find ways to help students with trouble separating from their phones. We can determine when it's on, when it's off, when it's asleep. And I think that those are some good boundaries that we can work and encourage parents. Yeah, so parents will really have to be on board with this. So there are some exemptions to the new ban on cell phones in Pennsylvania schools. Students with medical needs, those who might also have certain educational programs where cell phones are needed, will be allowed, as well as English language learners who might need cell phones for translation. Reporting live here in Doylestown, Corey Davis, Channel 6 Action News. Okay, Corey, thank you.