Education - Student Personal Electronic Device Use Policy - Required
SB130 requires Maryland’s State Department of Education to develop guidelines for student personal electronic device use during school hours and requires each county board of education to adopt a policy limiting student use of those devices during school hours. The bill defines “personal electronic device” broadly to include smartphones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, and other devices that can connect to cellular or Wi‑Fi networks. County policies must be developed in consultation with parents, teachers, students, and school personnel, and must be reviewed and updated every two years.
The bill generally prohibits student use of cellular or personal electronic devices during instructional time or school hours, depending on the section, and requires devices to be stored in a secure container or otherwise restricted. It also requires disciplinary measures for violations and mandates that policies be communicated to students, parents/guardians, and school staff. The Department may collect county policy information, update guidelines periodically, and use the information to identify best practices.
SB130 adds a new section to the Education Article requiring statewide guidance and local policy adoption on student device use. It affects county boards of education, the State Department of Education, students, parents, teachers, and school personnel by establishing a uniform framework for limiting phone and device use in schools while preserving exceptions for IEPs, Section 504 plans, documented health needs, and educator-directed educational use. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and will require school systems to revise handbooks, procedures, and disciplinary rules to comply.
The bill appears to have broad support and little visible opposition. It passed the Senate 43-0 and the House 139-0, indicating strong bipartisan agreement on restricting student device use in schools. The committee report was favorable with amendments, suggesting the concept was supported while some details were refined during the legislative process.
The main policy questions concern how strictly schools should restrict devices, what exceptions should be allowed, and how much discretion county boards should retain in crafting local rules. Likely points of concern include balancing classroom focus and reduced distraction against student safety, accessibility, medical needs, and educational uses of devices. The bill addresses these concerns by requiring exceptions for special education accommodations, documented health issues, and educator-directed use, and by involving stakeholders in policy development.