School Superintendents Consider Cellphone Ban

Massachusetts is one step closer to banning cellphones in the classroom.

The state Senate advanced a bill on July 8 which would require public schools to restrict phone use.

The Joint Education Committee redrafted legislation combining seven different Senate bills, including legislation supported by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell.

The Senate’s version of the bill would allow school districts to make their own plans, but they must be approved by the state Department of Education.

Dighton-Rehoboth School Superintendent Bill Runey supports the State Senate’s action but expressed some reservations.

“A statewide ‘bell‑to‑bell’ policy, as proposed, aims to reduce interruptions and allow teachers to teach with fewer disruptions,” Runey said Sunday. “That said, I’m cautious about creating barriers to communication. The bill explicitly allows districts to build in emergency‑access protocols—such as exceptions for students with disabilities, multilingual learners, off‑campus programs, and, importantly, clear mechanisms for parents or guardians to reach their children during the school day. That safeguard is essential: families rightly expect that, in an emergency or even just to coordinate afterschool plans, they can connect directly.”

Runey said the district would adhere to the state’s guidelines while consulting with teachers, staff, administrators, and families “to develop a policy that strikes the right balance: minimizing distractions and boosting learning, while guaranteeing that no child is unreachable when it matters most.”

“Cell phones are not a major issue in (our) classrooms, according to faculty and administrators,” said Seekonk School Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell.  “Teachers have the option of using pouches for student phones in their classrooms, and students are generally compliant with teacher expectations.  Students do have access to their phones during passing time and lunch, or during any time that a teacher designates it's okay to use them.”

“If the state passes a law around student cell phone access, we will determine the appropriate procedures to implement it,” Kidwell added.