Illinois Bans Student Cellphone Use During School Day
The new state law takes effect in the 2027-2028 school year, requiring districts to restrict phone access from first bell to final dismissal.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Governor Pritzker signed a bill in July banning cellphone use in Illinois schools. The restriction applies from the first arrival bell to the final dismissal bell, and state law bars suspensions or expulsions as enforcement.
Why it matters
Students across Illinois will face a uniform statewide rule on phone use during the school day, replacing the varying local policies currently in place. Districts must now update their own policies before the law takes effect.
The ban takes effect in the 2027-2028 school year and applies from the first arrival bell to the final dismissal bell. For K-8 grades, the restriction extends to lunch and passing periods, and state law does not permit suspensions or expulsions as enforcement.
The players
Gov. Pritzker
J.B. Pritzker is the Governor of Illinois, who signed the bill banning student cellphone use in the state's schools.
Michael Amadei
Michael Amadei is a public official quoted in relation to the cellphone policy changes affecting Illinois school districts.
The details
Under current district policies, such as those in Districts 59, 62 and 63, students keep phones off and out of sight during school, with CCSD 59 placing responsibility for phone security on students. The state's model policy suggests secured pouches as one storage option, and high schools will have the option to allow phone access during lunch and passing periods.
Timeline
July 2026: Governor Pritzker signs the cellphone ban bill into law.
2027-2028 school year: The ban takes effect in Illinois schools.
Policy Context
The statewide ban establishes a uniform rule under Illinois law, replacing the patchwork of local district policies that currently govern phone use. It places Illinois among states moving to restrict student phone access during the school day.
Parents and students should expect phones to be stored or kept off from the first bell until dismissal once the rule takes effect. Families can review their local district's updated policy as it is released before the 2027-2028 school year.
The takeaway
The statewide rule means students cannot count on district-by-district variation, so families should plan now for phones to be unavailable during the full school day. Checking your district's updated policy when it is published will show exactly how storage and lunch-period access will work.
What happens next
Local districts will update their cellphone policies before the 2027-2028 school year takes effect.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore Secondary Education reporting on how schools are handling student devices.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Journal Online.
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