Maryland Moves Toward Phone-Free School Days

Fellow Editors
5 minutes ago
3 min read

House Bill 525, introduced during the 2026 legislative session, would require every public school system in Maryland to significantly limit students’ use of personal electronic communication devices during the school day. The proposal is formally titled the Maryland Phone–Free Schools Act and would be added to state education law if passed.

The bill was introduced by multiple members of the Maryland House of Delegates and assigned to the Ways and Means Committee for review.

What the Bill Is Designed to Do

At its core, House Bill 525 directs each county board of education to create and enforce a policy that restricts student use of personal electronic communication devices throughout the entire academic school day. This includes not only classroom instruction, but also lunch, recess, hall transitions, and other non-instructional periods.

The intent is to reduce distractions, limit social media use during school hours, and improve student focus, well-being, and overall school climate.

What Counts as an “Electronic Communication Device”

The bill defines electronic communication devices broadly. Covered devices include:

Cell phones
Tablets and laptops
Smartwatches
Wireless earbuds or headphones
Geolocation and tracking devices
Any portable device capable of sending, receiving, or recording voice, images, or text

Importantly, devices issued by schools for instructional purposes are not included in this definition and are treated separately.

What Students Would Be Required to Do

Under the required policies, students would generally be expected to:

Store their personal devices so they are not carried on their person during the school day
Refrain from using devices at any time during the academic school day
Avoid social media apps and websites identified by the local school system
Obtain administrator approval if they need to use a personal device for educational purposes when a school-issued device is unavailable

Each county board would determine how devices are stored, such as locked pouches, lockers, or other secure methods.

Important Exceptions and Protections

The bill builds in several mandatory exceptions to ensure student safety, equity, and accessibility. Students would still be allowed to use devices when:

Required by an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan
Needed to manage a documented health condition
Authorized during a school emergency
Directed by an administrator for educational purposes
Used for language translation by multilingual students when school devices are unavailable
Needed to meet caregiving responsibilities, with principal approval

These exceptions are meant to prevent a one-size-fits-all approach and protect vulnerable student populations.

Discipline Rules: What Schools Cannot Do

While school systems must include disciplinary measures for violations, the bill places firm limits on punishment:

Discipline must be tiered and handled by administrators
Suspension or expulsion cannot be used solely for violating the device policy

This ensures enforcement focuses on behavior correction rather than exclusionary discipline.

Community Input and Transparency Requirements

County boards would be required to involve parents, students, educators, and community stakeholders when developing or revising their policies. Once adopted, policies must be:

Published in student handbooks
Posted on school and county board websites
Made available in multiple languages
Shared at school events

This emphasizes transparency and community buy-in.

Reporting and Accountability

Beginning in 2027, each county board must submit annual reports to the state detailing how the policy is working. These reports must include:

The full device policy
How devices are stored and secured
Enforcement and disciplinary data, broken down by student demographics
Use of restorative practices
Survey data on student focus, well-being, and satisfaction
Equity data and policy exemptions
Planned policy revisions

The Maryland State Department of Education would then compile and publish statewide summaries of these reports each year, highlighting trends, challenges, and model policies.

When the Law Would Take Effect

If enacted, the law would take effect July 1, 2026, with all county school systems required to have policies in place by the 2027–2028 school year.

Why This Matters

House Bill 525 reflects a growing national movement to limit student phone use in schools amid concerns about distraction, social media impacts, mental health, and classroom engagement. At the same time, the bill attempts to balance structure with flexibility by protecting students with disabilities, health needs, language barriers, and family responsibilities.

If passed, it would mark a major shift in how Maryland schools manage technology during the school day—moving toward a more consistent, statewide framework while leaving implementation details in local hands.

Fellows & Editors

February 19, 2026

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