Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2427 into law on Tuesday.
The bill requires all Illinois school districts to adopt “bell-to-bell” cell phone policies that limit student access to phones and other personal wireless devices.
Specifically for students from kindergarten through eighth grade the ban will apply throughout the entire school day whereas High School students may be able to access their phones during lunch and or passing periods.
The Illinois State Board of Education will release a model policy Sept. 1 to help districts develop their own plans with input from teachers, parents and students.
Schools must implement finalized policies by the start of the 2027-28 school year.
