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Bill

SB 948

Screen Free Schools Act.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Jay Chaudhuri and 1 co-sponsor

The bill requires strict limits on student use of wireless devices during instructional time, with grade-specific rules and funding to boost classroom staffing.

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · SB 948

Summary of SB 948 (Session 2025) – Screen Free Schools Act (North Carolina)

Purpose and intent

SB 948 seeks to reduce the use of wireless communication devices (WCDs) in public schools by requiring school governing bodies to adopt policies restricting student use of these devices during instructional time. The bill also directs substantial funding to hire teacher assistants and support other instructional material needs.

Key provisions

1) Wireless communication policy in public schools

  • Defines a wireless communication device (WCD) to include common devices such as cellphones, tablets, laptops, paging devices, two-way radios, and gaming devices.
  • Requires every public school unit’s governing body to establish a WCD policy with at least the following core features:
    • Prohibition on student use, display, or having a WCD on during instructional time, with specified exceptions.
    • Clear restrictions for different grade bands:
    • Kindergarten–Grade 5 (K–5):
      • Prohibit use in classrooms.
      • Instruction to be print-based and hands-on.
      • Tests/assessments to be conducted with printed materials where practicable.
    • Grades 6–8:
      • Allow use only of WCDs that are shared among students/classrooms; personal devices are not issued by schools.
      • School-owned/contracted WCDs must restrict access to non-instructional content (e.g., social media, non-educational video platforms).
      • Total time on WCDs during normal school hours must be less than one hour per school day.
      • WCDs owned/contracted by the school must remain on school premises.
    • Grades 9–12:
      • Schools may issue WCDs individually for instructional purposes.
      • Total time on WCDs during normal school hours must be less than 1 hour 30 minutes per school day.
      • Use of a school-issued WCD must be for instructional purposes only.
      • Assignments or homework requiring WCDs outside school hours should not demand more than one hour of use per day.
  • Allows limited, explicitly defined exceptions:
    • If authorized by a teacher for educational purposes or emergencies.
    • As required by an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan.
    • To manage a student’s health care per documented medical condition.
  • Consequences for policy violations:
    • Schools may confiscate devices and apply disciplinary measures under the district’s Code of Student Conduct.
  • Compliance reporting:
    • By Sept. 1 of the year the act becomes effective, each public school unit must submit its WCD policy to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
    • DPI must report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by Oct. 1 each year on compliance and noncompliant units.

2) Textbook policy alignment (minor cross-reference)

  • Requires printed materials to be used in all K–8 classrooms as part of textbook policy, with flexibility for nonprint or technology-based formats in other grade levels as defined in current law.

3) Textbook needs and formats

  • Reiterates DPI responsibilities and textbook adoption processes, with emphasis on printed materials for K–8.

Fiscal provisions and timing

  • Section 4(a): An appropriation of $930,000,000 (recurring) from the General Fund to DPI starting in the 2026–2027 fiscal year to fund one teacher assistant per classroom in K–5.
  • Section 4(b): An appropriation of $4,300,000 (recurring) from the General Fund to DPI starting in 2026–2027 to provide grants under G.S. 115C-269.31 (grant programs, details not specified in the summary text).
  • Effective date: The act becomes law upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Public school units (districts and charter schools) must adopt and enforce WCD policies.
  • Students across all K–12 grades, with grade-specific restrictions.
  • Teachers, administrators, and DPI staff responsible for policy implementation, monitoring compliance, and reporting.
  • DPI receives annual compliance reports and oversees policy administration.
  • Classroom staffing impacted by a large-scale hiring authorization for teacher assistants in early grades.

Potential impact

  • Reduced student exposure to non-instructional WCD use during the school day.
  • Increased reliance on print-based instruction for younger students.
  • Substantial investment in classroom staffing (K–5) and targeted grants, potentially altering resource allocation and classroom dynamics.
  • Administrative workload added for policy development, compliance tracking, and reporting.

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

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