County Boards of Education - Student Cellular Phone Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)
Summary
HB630, the Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act, requires each county board of education to adopt and implement a student cellular phone use policy by the 2026-2027 school year. The policy must generally prohibit students from using cell phones during instructional time, require phones to be stored in a secure place during that time, and bar use of specified social media applications and websites during school hours. The bill defines instructional time as any time during the school day except lunch.
The bill also creates exceptions to the restriction. Students may use a phone when allowed by an individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan, to monitor or address a documented health issue, during an emergency event, or when an educator or administrator directs use for educational purposes. Each county policy must also include disciplinary measures for violations, including a warning for a first offense, and those measures must be enforced by an administrator.
Impact
HB630 would add a new section to the Education Article requiring county boards to adopt uniform phone-restriction policies for students during the school day. It would affect local school system discipline rules, student conduct policies, and school administration practices statewide, while preserving accommodations for disability-related needs, health needs, emergencies, and instructional uses. The bill would also give county boards authority to identify social media platforms and websites that students may not access during school hours.
Sentiment
The bill’s framing and sponsor list suggest broad bipartisan interest in limiting classroom phone use, and the title indicates an emphasis on creating phone-free schools. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the supplied materials. Based on the text alone, the bill appears aimed at improving classroom focus and reducing distractions, with built-in exceptions to address accessibility and safety concerns.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the scope of the ban and how it would be enforced. Supporters are likely to favor a clear statewide requirement to reduce distractions and social media use during school hours, while critics may focus on local control, enforcement burdens, and whether a broad prohibition could interfere with family communication or student autonomy. The bill addresses some concerns by allowing exceptions for IEPs, Section 504 plans, documented health issues, emergencies, and educator-directed educational use, but the requirement for disciplinary measures and administrator enforcement could still be debated.