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Bill

SB 928

County Boards of Education - Student Electronic Communication Device Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dalya Attar and 16 co-sponsors

Requires Maryland schools to establish local smartphone use policies during school days, giving counties flexibility to restrict devices based on their needs and resources.

Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · SB 928

Legislative bill overview

SB 928 requires Maryland county boards of education to establish policies governing student use of electronic communication devices (primarily smartphones) during the school day. The bill mandates that schools implement restrictions on when and where students can use these devices, though it allows local boards flexibility in policy design rather than imposing statewide uniform rules.

Why is this important

Student phone use during school hours affects academic engagement, classroom management, and mental health outcomes. This bill addresses growing concerns about classroom distraction and bullying while giving schools concrete authority to enforce restrictions, though implementation details vary by county and could affect educational equity across jurisdictions.

Potential points of contention

  • Local control vs. standardization: Allowing each county to design its own policy may create inconsistency across Maryland schools and unequal enforcement standards
  • Implementation challenges: Schools must balance restriction enforcement with practical concerns like emergency communication and students with legitimate medical needs (diabetes monitors, seizure alerts)
  • Effectiveness questions: Research on phone bans shows mixed results on actual academic improvement; critics argue this addresses symptoms rather than developing digital literacy and self-regulation skills in students

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

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