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HD 3823

An Act establishing a commission regarding phones in schools

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Adam Scanlon

Establishes a state commission to study how student phone use in MA schools affects learning and mental health and to propose statewide policy options by Jan 1, 2026.

Senate concurred
0
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Bill Summary · HD 3823

Summary: An Act establishing a commission regarding phones in schools (HD 3823)

Overview

  • Bill: HD 3823 (An Act establishing a commission regarding phones in schools)
  • Purpose: Creates a commission to study the presence of students’ phones in Massachusetts schools and how that presence affects educational outcomes and student mental health.
  • Status: Senate concurred; Referred to the Committee on Education (Feb 27, 2025)
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025; Version content filed Jan 17, 2025
  • Legislative context: Proposed bill in the 194th General Court (2025-2026)

Purpose and Scope

  • The primary aim is to investigate how student phone use in classrooms and schools impacts learning, development, and mental health.
  • The Commission will evaluate current district policies and practices across the Commonwealth and develop policy recommendations for schools, districts, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Commission Composition

The commission would include 13 members (plus designated roles), appointed as follows:
- Senate appointments (2):
- Senate President appoints 2 members, one of whom is the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Education; one serves as co-chair.
- House appointments (2):
- Speaker of the House appoints 2 members, one of whom is the House chair of the Joint Committee on Education; one serves as co-chair.
- Minority appointments (2):
- One member from the Senate minority leader; one from the House minority leader.
- Executive/administrative appointments (2):
- Secretary of Education or designee; Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education or designee.
- Governor-appointed experts (2):
- One expert in developmental psychology and mental health; one expert in education and the science of learning.
- Stakeholder representation (6):
- 1 representative from each of: Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Massachusetts Teachers Association, American Federation of Teachers (Massachusetts), Massachusetts PTA, and the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Key Provisions and Policy Options Under Consideration

The Commission’s work will include:
- Investigating effects of student phone presence on learning and mental health.
- Reviewing current school policies across districts.
- Developing policy recommendations for schools, districts, and DESE, including:
1) Whether to prohibit phone use from the start to the end of the school day, and whether exceptions (e.g., lunch, recess) should apply.
2) Storage requirements (phones kept in bags vs. lockers or other secure locations).
3) Policy promulgation at different levels (statewide binding rules vs. incentives, model policies, or district-level policies).
4) Use of other technologies/tools to implement phone policies.
5) Funding sources (state Commonwealth funds vs. district or private/public funding) to finance policies.

Timeline and Reporting

  • Deadline for final recommendations: January 1, 2026.
  • Deliverables: Findings and recommendations to the Joint Committee on Education and to DESE.

Affected Parties and Potential Impacts

  • Students and families: potential changes to daily phone use and privacy dynamics.
  • School districts and schools: guidance on policy design, enforcement, and required storage practices.
  • DESE: receives policy recommendations and model guidance for statewide consistency.
  • Stakeholder groups: representation from educators, administrators, teachers unions, parent organizations, and child health/learning research institutions.

Procedural Notes

  • Bill has progressed from introduction to referral in the House and Senate concurrence as of the date provided.
  • No specific appropriation is stated in the text; funding considerations are part of the policy options for consideration.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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