“In conversations with educators and parents around the state – there is one thing they commonly cite as an impediment to learning in the classroom: cell phones,” said Governor Pritzker in a State address earlier this year. Numerous school districts around the country have shared similar concerns, leading to legislative action that prevents cell phone use in school. Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and Illinois as a whole, currently do not have any enactment of state-wide phone restrictions, being one of only eighteen states with no required policy.
CPS and Northside Policy
Although there are no Illinois state-wide restrictions currently in place, there are regulations for CPS and Northside specifically.
The CPS district dictates what use of phones they deem acceptable during school hours in their code of conduct. Currently, the CPS Student Code of Conduct states:
“A principal may allow students to possess cellular phones… by creating a school policy identifying when the items may be authorized. A principal may also prohibit cellular phones but allow individual students to possess them for any good cause after considering a written request from a parent/guardian…Unless approved by the principal, cellular phones and other information technology devices are not allowed at school” (CPS Student Code of Conduct).
In other words, the restrictions of mobile devices are determined by a school’s principal. There are consequences for the use of phones without authorization, which can result in parent conferences, detention, or instructive discipline.
In general, compared to other school districts across the country, Chicago’s current policy has no flat-out ban. For example, in Peoria, their public school district has adapted to a phone-free school day for the 2025-2026 school year using Yondr pouches, magnetically sealed fabric pouches that lock up phones.
Northside’s Phone Policy
As per the current CPS policy for phone restrictions being on a school-to-school basis, the Northside Student Handbook currently determines the phone policy at Northside for this school year:
“Students may bring cell/smartphones to school ONLY if they have a signed waiver form on file for the current school year. Cell phones must be powered off during classes, not on silent or vibrate. A student may use a cell phone only during their lunch period or passing periods. Cell phones and other electronic devices may not be used during class time unless specified by the teacher. Failure to abide by these guidelines will result in the confiscation of the cellphone and disciplinary action in line.” (NCP Handbook 2025-2026)
In the classroom, teachers enforce phone usage differently. For example, students have noted that the Math Department at Northside provides phone caddies for each student.
Illinois Legislation
Principal Stuber says,“Following the pandemic, we have seen a rise in screentime.” Many Illinois teachers have begun to notice phones becoming a larger barrier for student learning, and the current policy may need to shift; 72% of high school teachers attribute cell phone distraction to be a major issue. In the past year, there have been numerous attempts to change Illinois’ phone policy. The most prominent example was Bill 2427.
In March of 2025, Bill 2427 was passed in the state senate unanimously, which would require all school districts to create policies that prohibit wireless devices in the classroom, excluding school-provided devices, with adequate exceptions. Senator Cristina Castro, D-Elgin, describes this bill as “a standard that all school districts have to follow” in an article from Capitol News Illinois.
Although no bills have been officially turned into law, with Bill 2427 running out of time to be passed as the House was focused on other issues, lawmakers could revisit this bill again in the fall veto session. Governor Pritzker has pledged to require Illinois schools to ban phone use in the classroom influencing the prominence of this issue.
Northside Student Thoughts on Phone Restrictions
As Northside students, a potential phone restriction would greatly impact how the school functions. Junior Margot Sherman said, “If a student phone ban is put into place, I worry that I would not be able to contact my parents – having a phone in school is definitely useful.”
She also mentions that phone restrictions “would not necessarily help students focus more, people will just find other ways to be distracted.” Along with Margot, many students have expressed their worries that off-campus lunch and getting home safely would be difficult without a phone.
Impact
Although it is not clear yet what the 2026-2027 school year will look like for phone usage, further legislation could potentially change Northside’s current policy. Dr. Stuber states, “From a policy perspective, once legislation is enacted, the district and its stakeholders will guide the implementation of policies and suggest protocols at the school level.” In other words, Northside will adapt to new changes in the State.
