Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced last Wednesday that he is supporting a plan to ban cell phones in Illinois schools, making the proposal a highlight of his State of the State address. The governor said the initiative aims to reduce classroom distractions and help students stay focused on learning.
“In conversations with educators and parents around the state, there is one thing they commonly cite as an impediment to learning in the classroom: cell phones,” Pritzker stated during his address.
Currently, individual school districts set their own policies regarding student phone use, and several districts—including some in Southern Illinois—have already implemented stricter rules during the school day. Pritzker’s proposal seeks to create a consistent statewide policy.
The governor described the measure as part of a larger effort to improve student performance, classroom behavior, and address concerns related to excessive phone and social media use. Details on how the ban would be implemented statewide have not yet been released, but lawmakers are expected to consider the proposal in the coming weeks. If approved, the policy would likely take effect in a future school year rather than immediately.