House Education hears independent schools’ concerns over H.54 cellphone and electronic-device limits

Montpelier — On May 7, 2025, the Vermont House Education Committee continued debate on H.54, a bill that would restrict student use of cell phones and other electronic devices in schools. Oliver Olsen, head of the Vermont Independent Schools Association, told the committee that independent schools generally support limits on phone use in classrooms but urged lawmakers to avoid a rigid, one-size-fits-all ban.

Olsen said the association surveyed its roughly 42 member schools this year and heard from about 70% of them. “Overwhelmingly, schools are very supportive of having, prohibitions at the very least in classrooms, of cell phone use,” Olsen said. He told lawmakers that families have broadly reacted positively to school phone restrictions and that many schools see benefits to learning when devices are limited.

Committee members pressing for clarification heard several…