Maryland’s new law restricting cell-phone use in schools earned a “B” grade on Phone-Free Schools State Report Card. The state previously received an “F” grade for failing to pass a law during the 2025 legislative session.
The Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act (H.B. 525) was sponsored by Del. Adrian Boafo (D-MD) and State Sen. Kevin Harris (D-MD). Signed by Gov. Wes Moore (D), the law requires county school boards to implement policies that prohibit students from using their phones or other electronic devices for the entire school day, or “bell-to-bell,” beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year. The bill was co-sponsored by Delegates Sarah Wolek and Chao Wu, both Democrats who put in significant work on the legislation.
Leading child safety and well-being organizations, including The Anxious Generation Movement, Smartphone Free Childhood US, Institute for Families and Technology, and Becca Schmill Foundation, announced the “B” grade for Maryland’s new law. At the same time, the organizations applauded Maryland’s law for prohibiting suspension or expulsion for students for violating the policy. Such disciplinary policies are considered exclusionary and inequitable.
“We applaud Del. Boafo, Del. Wolek, Del. Wu, and Sen. Harris for their leadership freeing Maryland students from the distractions of personal electronic devices during the entire school day,” said Emily Rapp, policy director for the Institute of Families and Technology. “Maryland should also be commended as a national leader for prioritizing equitable implementation – ensuring students are not suspended or expelled for policy infractions.”
To earn an “A” grade under the Report Card’s criteria, a school would have a bell-to-bell policy that mandated phones were inaccessible while students were in school. Studies have shown that restrictions like these improve academic performance, improve students’ mental and physical health, increase teacher satisfaction, protect student safety and privacy, and add depth to a school’s community relationships.
“Maryland is setting an example for ‘F’ states to follow by establishing a consistent standard that will benefit students and teachers statewide,” said Deb Schmill, founder of the Becca Schmill Foundation. “We hope Maryland will go even further by ensuring devices are stored in inaccessible locations for the entire school day.”
An educator for the past 32 years, Melanie Coates currently teaches English at Western School of Technology and Environmental Science (Western Tech) in Baltimore County Public Schools, and previously taught journalism for 19 years at Catonsville High School. She is concerned about the hoops teachers would have to jump through when a student has their phone out when they are not supposed to.
“If it puts more on teachers, then it won’t work,” Coates told Baltimore Fishbowl. “Law or no law, if we have to warn, contact parents, keep documentation, create some sort of intervention, argue with the student (and the parent-who can be a bigger issue since they text and call while students are in class), then it’s just on teachers again and a law makes no difference. We need something with teeth.”
At Western, Coates said they follow existing BCPS policy, which allows students to have phones on their person during the day, but they should not have it out. Teachers have discretion in their classrooms to allow them to use their phones for instructional purposes. She does not think Maryland’s new law will make a difference.
“[I] wish we could use those phone pouches that were piloted in some BCPS schools, but cost so much,” Coates said. “They apparently had an effect in those pilot schools. Just reminding them to put them away is useless.”
