House Education committee debates phone‑free schools bill, social media definition and teacher discretion

The Vermont House Committee on Education on May 7 debated a draft bill that would require every public, independent and prequalified private school to adopt a policy prohibiting student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices from arrival to dismissal, while also debating how to define and limit schools' use of social media.

The provision under consideration would require each local school board or governing body to develop, adopt and implement a written policy to prohibit cell‑phone use during the school day, with exceptions for documented medical needs, individualized education programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans, certain dual‑enrollment and career‑technical programs, and other narrowly defined circumstances. The bill text sets the policy effective date for July 1, 2026, while findings would take effect July 1, 2025.

Committee members spent most of the session focused on the bill's long definition section and a separate social‑media prohibition. Legislative counsel described draft language adding “subchapter 7 to chapter 9” titled “Cell phone and personal electronic devices in schools,” and explained a proposed archival requirement for any district‑approved communication platform. Legislative counsel (Office of Legislative Council) said the draft would require that any approved program “allow school officials to…