Relates to the description of the arms of the state and the state flag

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Ashby and 1 co-sponsor

The bill would require a statewide policy prohibiting K–12 students from using wireless phones during the school day unless a principal authorizes it.

COMMITTED TO RULES

Purpose

S.333 directs the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to establish a statewide written policy that generally prohibits K–12 students in public schools from using wireless communication devices (e.g., cellular phones) during the school day, except when specifically authorized by a principal. The intent is to reduce in-school student phone use and provide a consistent framework across districts for device storage, emergency communication, and medical exceptions.

Key provisions

DESE must adopt a written policy prohibiting student use of wireless communication devices during the school day unless a principal authorizes use.

The policy must include:

One or more secure, designated locations for student storage of cell phones during the school day (examples explicitly include student lockers).
One or more clear methods for parents/guardians to contact students during the school day, and a requirement that parents/guardians be notified in writing of these contact methods at the start of each school year.
Regulations providing for medical exceptions and other appropriate exigencies (i.e., emergency or special circumstances).

Implementation details (enforcement, penalties, exact storage standards) are to be set out by DESE regulation and by local school authorities as applicable.

Who is affected

Primary: Students enrolled in Massachusetts K–12 public schools.

Secondary: School administrators and principals (authority to authorize exceptions), teachers and staff (implementation/enforcement), parents/guardians (notification and communication procedures), and school districts (infrastructure for secure storage).

DESE: Responsible for writing and promulgating the required statewide policy and related regulations.

Potential impacts and considerations

Operational: Schools may need to provide or adapt secure storage (lockers, bins), update emergency contact protocols, and train staff.

Costs: Potential modest costs for storage solutions or communications upgrades, depending on district capacity.

Student health/safety: Explicit medical exceptions preserve access for students who need devices for health reasons.

Enforcement and equity: Implementation choices (e.g., disciplinary measures, availability of storage) could affect equity and daily routines; local districts may vary in execution.

Privacy/security: Policies should address how stored devices are secured and who has access.

Legislative/timeline notes

Introduced Jan 30, 2025; referred to the Committee on Education (and earlier entries reference other committees/hearings).

Hearing scheduled June 17, 2025; advanced to third reading Feb 5; committed to rules June 13, 2025.

Related measures: companion bill A.5088, prior-session S.5528, and a later draft referenced as S.2549 (filed 2025-07-10) indicating ongoing revisions.

Note: Source materials provided contained some inconsistent metadata (e.g., alternate titles and duplicate procedural entries). The summary above is based on the bill text titled "An Act to promote phone free schools."

Bill