Vermont educators, health experts and school boards urge state backing for phone ban, seek clear rules for social media and AED plans

Montpelier, Vt. —— Testimony at a Senate Education Committee hearing on H.54 emphasized broad support among school leaders and health professionals for restricting students' personal electronic devices during the school day, while warning that the Legislature must provide model policies, funding and clear definitions to make any new rules workable.

The bill under discussion, referred to in testimony as draft 5.1, would require school districts to adopt policies limiting use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices during school hours and would restrict use of social media for official school communications. Witnesses also addressed a separate requirement in a related draft for cardiac emergency response plans, including access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

Why it matters: Witnesses said removing phones during the school day can improve classroom focus, reduce bullying and benefit student mental health, but they also cautioned that enforcement, equity and data-privacy questions must be resolved at the state level. Without model policy language, training support and fiscal resources, several presenters warned, districts could struggle to implement consistent rules.

Michael Craig, associate executive director of the Vermont Principals Association, told the committee that many Vermont schools have already moved to restrict phone use and that members want “something from the state to back up what they are already engaged in.” Craig urged caution on overly specific statutory…