Governor Phil Scott June 27 signed H.480, among other amendments, to education law. The bill includes a “phone-free” in schools policy that has received wide support in Vermont and nationally.
When signing H.480, an act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law, Gov. Scott issued the following statement: “This bill includes many technical changes but also takes a meaningful step forward to develop and implement a phone-free policy in schools across Vermont. The things our cell phones can do today are amazing; however, the one area they seem to be very good at, is their ability to distract us from everything. We need kids to be focused on learning, interacting with their peers, teachers, and friends while they’re at school. And it’s clear now that phones can get in the way of important conversations and class discussions and can also be used for harmful interactions, like bullying. Taking a break from our phones is probably a good policy for all of us to follow — and hopefully, find that healthy balance we could all use a little more of.”
The policy will go into effect for school year 2026-27. The law reads, in part: “The Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Vermont School Boards Association, the Vermont Independent School Association, and a representative from the Vermont Coalition for Phone and Social Media Free Schools, shall develop, and review at least annually, a policy to, subject to the exceptions in subdivision (2) of this subsection, prohibit student use of cell phones and non-school-issued personal electronic devices that connect to cellular networks, the internet, or have wireless capabilities at school from arrival to dismissal,” the bill reads. “The model policy shall provide exceptions for students to use a cell phone or personal electronic device if such use is: it is required as part of a student’s individualized health care plan, individualized education program, or 504 plan, which shall be documented.”
Several Vermont middle and high schools have already adopted policies that create an entirely phone-free school day.
Newsweek reports that according to the Pew Research Center polling data released in June 2024, 72% of high school teachers say phone distractions are a major problem. As of June 2025, 14 states have active laws or executive orders that ban or restrict cell phone use in schools. Proponents argue that it benefits student attainment and improves mental health.
