HARTFORD, Conn. – Last week, a bill to ban cell phones from bell-to-bell in Connecticut schools failed in the State Senate after it was approved by the House. 

From late April to early May, the Connecticut House of Representatives approved a bill that would prohibit students across Connecticut from using their phones in school, bell-to-bell. This bill would require devices, cellphones, smart watches, and tablets to be turned off and stored during the school day in order to reduce distractions in classrooms, along with creating meaningful connections and developing relationships for all K-12 public schools. This bell-to-bell law will be included during lunches, the transition period between classes, and even for seniors who have an off-block. Decisions on a specific method of storage, either lockers, backpacks, or Yondr pouches, were to be left to the local school boards.  The bill, however, failed to pass the State Senate on May 7, where it did not advance to a vote for this session. 

Even though the bill failed to pass, some districts in Connecticut already have policies in Connecticut where students cannot access their phones from bell to bell. In Fitch High Schools, students cannot have access to it from bell to bell, but can have it for lunch only. Along with these two schools, a handful of districts in Connecticut, including New Haven, Waterbury, and Torrington, have a cellphone ban. 

Even though the cellphone ban failed, some students in Fitch have raised concerns about what would happen if they tried again to implement the ban. 

“I do not think the cell phone bill is necessary,” said junior Shardae Striggles. “There are already enough regulations in school cell phone policy-wise, and just in case of emergency, at home or at school, students should have it on them.”