WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 2549

Requires the members of the state board of parole, and parole hearing officers to be composed of a proportionate share of residents

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Zellnor Myrie

Massachusetts schools would ban student access to personal electronic devices during the school day, with required policies and exceptions to support learning and safety.

REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 2549

Summary — S.2549 (2025-2026) — "An Act to promote student learning and mental health"

Note: The supplied packet contains inconsistent metadata (an unrelated parole-board title and a list of federal senators as sponsors). This summary is based on the bill text included in the packet, which is a Massachusetts Senate bill to regulate personal electronic device use in K–12 public schools.

Purpose / Intent

To reduce classroom and school-day distractions, protect student and staff privacy and safety, and promote learning and mental health by requiring public schools and districts to adopt and file comprehensive policies limiting student access to personal electronic devices (PEDs) during the school day.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 101 to Chapter 71 and a new Section 38 to Chapter 69 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
  • Defines “personal electronic device” broadly to include mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches, Bluetooth-enabled devices, and other portable internet- or network-capable devices. School-issued/sanctioned devices used for legitimate educational purposes are exempted.
  • Requires each public school/district to adopt a written PED-use policy that:
    • Prohibits students’ physical access to PEDs during the school day.
    • Establishes standards for PED use on school grounds and during school-sponsored activities beyond the school day.
    • Specifies enumerated exceptions, including: health and safety needs; IEP/504 and other disability accommodations (ADA/Title II); off-campus travel for approved learning opportunities; multilingual learner needs; staff-directed use; emergencies; and other reasonable exceptions.
    • Provides methods for parents/guardians to contact students during the school day, including urgent/emergency contact procedures.
    • Includes enforcement provisions that must guard against inequitable discipline.
    • Allows policy variations by developmental level/grade and school structure.
    • Requires schools to notify students and parents/guardians and make the policy publicly available.
    • Requires school- or district-level adoption and approval by the school committee or governing body.
  • Timeline requirement: policies must be in place before the 2026–2027 school year.
  • Directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to:
    • Publish guidance, recommendations, and one or more model policies.
    • Consider criteria such as preventing personal use of school-issued devices, secure storage options, and equitable enforcement.
    • Make guidance publicly available on its website and update it regularly.
    • Require schools/districts to file their PED policies with DESE (in a form prescribed by DESE).

Who is affected

  • All Massachusetts public K–12 schools and school districts (students, teachers, staff, school committees).
  • Parents and guardians (contact/communication provisions).
  • DESE (responsible for guidance, model policies, and collection of filed policies).
  • Students with disabilities and multilingual learners (covered by explicit exceptions and accommodation language).

Implementation & procedural status (from provided record)

  • Introduced/Reported in July 2025; committee actions include referral to Education committee and further referral/consideration by Senate Ways & Means. Records show a committee recommendation with an amended substitute (new draft S.2561). Policies must be implemented by the start of the 2026–2027 school year if enacted.

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Would standardize and require local adoption of stricter school-day PED limits statewide while allowing local tailoring and legally required accommodations.
  • Aims to reduce classroom distractions and support mental health, but may require schools to address logistics (secure storage, communication protocols) and guard against disproportionate disciplinary impacts.
  • DESE guidance and model policies are expected to ease local implementation but will be important in shaping enforcement and equity outcomes.

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

Sign in to ask a question.