Lawmakers are taking matters into their own hands, saying schools are not moving fast enough to ban cell phones.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 77% of public schools prohibit students from using cell phones during class.

Maryland has yet to join several other states to enact a statewide ban, but many local schools have, including in Howard and Baltimore County.

Some schools have yet to roll out a total phone-free environment policy.

“We have seen progress at the county level,” said Maryland Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher. “In fact, Montgomery County where I represent, has made strong progress on this issue, but we’re not moving fast enough.”

Waldstreicher, a Democrat, and Maryland Sen. Justin Ready, a Republican, are working alongside to address what they say is a gap in both their district schools.

“We have a lot of policy disagreements and so it’s great to see us come together,” said Ready. “It just shows you the urgency of this issue.”

The law introduced by Waldstreicher and Ready would implement phone-free school pilot programs in Carroll and Montgomery County public schools.

If passed, the law would go into effect in July 2025, it would give schools local control but require the districts to adopt a phone-free school day policy on or before September 2026, with exceptions for students who need phones either for a disability or academic use.

“I think it’s clear at this point that phones are a net negative for students in schools,” said Waldstreicher. “I thought it was appropriate that the state step in and start pushing this forward.”

Currently, in both schools, phones are allowed to be brought to school but silenced and stored out of sight unless given permission to use them.

“It’s two stories,” said Anne Arundel Public Schools parent Tyrell Mitchell. “I mean because it can be distracted by them as well so but I think it should be only used for emergency purposes.”

“I feel like we should be able to still have our phones at school because sometimes the internet helps us understand the work more,” said Forest Park High School student Alexis Whitfield.

The legislation is still in committee.

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