Springside Chestnut Hill (SCH) Academy understands cellphones aren’t inherently bad, but doesn’t want them in its classrooms. Neither do a lot of other schools.

According to Matt Norcini, head of SCH Academy’s upper school, students are better off without their devices in classrooms.

“We’re having kids lock their phones into cases during the day,” Norcini said. “We’re using a new case; a lot of people are familiar with Yondr pouches,” which are lockable bags for electronic devices.

He added: “The last three years we’ve had no phones in academic spaces. Now we’re going to have no phones across the day.”

Across the country and in Pennsylvania, lawmakers are catching on and have introduced or enacted legislation to limit cellphones in classrooms. On Sept. 30, Senate Bill 5636 was introduced in Washington with bipartisan support. It proposes a grant program to support restrictions on personal electronic devices during school instructional time, with funding for lockers, lockboxes or pouches. The bill includes exceptions for special-needs students.

In Harrisburg, a statewide cellphone ban has been proposed through Senate Bill 1014 and House Bill 1814. According to a co-sponsorship memo, the state Senate version would enact a bell-to-bell phone ban that would start during the 2027-2028 school year. The House version is similar.

“Cell phone use in schools has become a growing concern for many,” said state Rep. Mandy Steele, an Allegheny County Democrat and bill sponsor, in a memo to her colleagues. “Frequent access to cell phones during the school day can contribute to distractions, cyberbullying, and reduced engagement in the classroom. While some schools have policies to limit phone use, these rules vary widely across districts and can be inconsistently enforced. A clear, statewide standard is needed to ensure that learning environments remain focused and free from unnecessary interruptions.”

The bills are being reviewed and await amendments while discussions continue on exemptions students should have for emergencies.

These latest moves come in the wake of social media giant Meta — owner of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads — agreeing in August to pay up to $18 billion over the next 10 years because of addictive features on their platforms, making it one of the largest consumer-protection actions in history. The settlement involves 48 states, Washington, D.C., and three U.S. territories. Pennsylvania is set to receive at least $516 million under the terms of the deal.

Starting in 2023, 29 states had filed suit against Meta, saying the company also was violating the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal information from children under the age of 13.

Meta is pressing other social media platforms to follow its lead, starting with updated child safety measures for teens that include a two-hour daily limit and “night mode,” prohibiting teens from accessing stories or reels from midnight to 6 a.m.

SCH is far from the only school enacting rules; in fact, they are becoming more common as parents and educators worry about the effects cell phones play in teen development.

In an email sent to parents over the summer, Norcini said that “we will work with the parents’ association and our student council to navigate sticking points as they emerge, and I appreciate your feedback and suggestions along the way.”

According to its phone policy, SCH recognizes that smartphone dependency is not a character flaw, but rather a reality of modern life. Other schools, like Germantown Friends School (GFS), are taking a similar approach.

John Henderson, director of information technology and head of computer science at GFS, says another useful resource for schools is GoGuardian, a software suite that monitors, filters and controls student device activity.

“GoGuardian sits as a filter on top of everything we do here,” Henderson said. “So, it allows us to screen out things we never want in a school — things like violence, drugs, sex, like that sort of stuff.”

On one point officials seem to agree: These policies require parents to play an active role.

Page Fahrig-Pendse, the associate head of school at GFS, says parents are needed for policies to work, not only for the school, but for their children.

“We want to have parents as part of the school,” Fahrig-Pense said. “How do we bring this community together, so faculty knows parents and parents know faculty?”