Cell Phone Restrictions are About Students' Success, Says Cooper

June 2, 2026

HARRISBURG – Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland) today issued the following statement regarding the passage of House Bill 1814, a proposal to prohibit the use of cellular phones in Pennsylvania schools:

“I voted in favor of the legislation to implement a bell-to-bell restriction on cell phone use in schools because it directly addresses two urgent challenges facing our students today: declining mental health and increased classroom distraction.

“The Pennsylvania Constitution makes clear that the Commonwealth has a responsibility to provide a ‘thorough and efficient system of public education.’ That obligation is not just about funding - it is about ensuring that students have a learning environment where they can focus, engage and succeed. When constant digital distractions interfere with instruction, that constitutional standard is harder to meet. This legislation is a reasonable and necessary step toward upholding that responsibility.

“Research and classroom experience make it clear that constant access to personal mobile devices is interfering with students’ ability to focus, learn and meaningfully engage with their peers. The average teenager receives hundreds of notifications a day - often multiple during a single class period - which significantly disrupts attention and academic performance. Beyond distraction, increased phone use has been linked to higher rates of cyberbullying, anxiety and social isolation. While this policy alone will not solve the broader mental health crisis, it gives students a structured school day with fewer distractions and more opportunities for face-to-face interaction.

“This legislation also reflects strong, broad-based support from both educators and the public. Polling shows that approximately 72% of Pennsylvania voters support a bell-to-bell ban on cell phones in schools. Among educators, support is even stronger - about 84% of Pennsylvania teachers favor a full school-day restriction. In the 55th District, roughly 70% of respondents supported restricting cell phone use during instructional time, reinforcing that this is a commonsense step supported by the community.

“Importantly, this bill strikes the right balance between statewide consistency and local control. It establishes a clear expectation that cell phone use will be restricted during the school day while allowing school districts the flexibility to determine how best to implement and enforce that policy. Schools can adopt approaches that work for their communities, whether that means secure storage, powered-off devices, or other systems such as allowing students to keep their cell phone in their backpack throughout the school day if they are turned off.

“The legislation also includes practical flexibility. It allows for limited exceptions for educational use when approved by the principal and ensures that parents are informed about school policies and how to communicate with their children during the day. Concerns about emergencies are understandable, but safety experts and law enforcement have made clear that unrestricted phone use during crises can create confusion, spread misinformation and interfere with first responders.

“The goal with House Bill 1814 is not to punish learners, but instead to create an environment where teachers can teach, learning can thrive and students can reach their academic potential.”

Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper