Illinois' new cellphone ban receives praise, criticism from Chicago-area school communities

CHICAGO - Many students reached for their backpacks as they spilled out of Bernhard Moos Elementary School last week, pulling out smartphones and tablets as they walked away. Come fall 2027, that scene will be the norm, as the end of the school day will be the first chance most students will have to check their devices under the new Illinois cellphone ban.

Prohibiting cellphones in schools from "bell to bell" has long been a contested topic, but now that Illinois lawmakers have restricted their use in public and charters beginning with the 2027-28 academic year, parents and students have strong opinions on just how much device usage should be allowed - and when.

Illinois lawmakers voted late last month to prohibit elementary and middle school students from using a laundry list of wireless communication devices during the school day, including cellular telephones, tablet computers, laptop computers and gaming devices. Wearable devices are out, too, including smartwatches and smart glasses. High school students may use phones during lunch or breaks at their school district's discretion.

Even in school districts with cellphone restrictions already in place, the new ban has been met both with irritation and validation. For families where devices are a daily struggle, the ban acts as an outside enforcer, taking the pressure off adults. For students already frustrated by rules around their device use, the school ban sets their negative feelings in stone.

The ban is a way to reduce classroom distractions, especially for students who have their devices at school and can't wait to get on their phones at the end of the day, according to Barbara McWilliams, the guardian of a fourth grader at Moos in Humboldt Park.

McWilliams already has guardrails in place for her fourth grader, who isn't allowed to take her phone or iPad to school. "I check her every morning before we go, in the book bag, because you know how kids put (devices) in their bags," McWilliams said. "I tell her, ‘You're going to school to learn, not to play.'"

But for some parents, cellphone bans leave them worried about their children's safety, even though the new Illinois ban could allow students to use their devices in emergencies and for educational purposes.

Parents and students should be able to contact each other without interference from the school, according to Ramona Daniels, another parent at Moos Elementary.

"What if there's something wrong going down in school, and the school can't get everybody their phone," Daniels said. "Say there was a lockdown or something, they're not going to be concerned about giving these kids their phones, and the parents are going to be worried about their kids, wondering if they're OK."

Daniels' son, A'den, is only 7 - a first grader at Moos - and does not take a phone to school. But when he gets older, she wants him to be able to contact her directly if needed. The potential for security threats, such as lockdowns and school shootings, makes phone freedom necessary, in Daniels' opinion.

"Tell them to put their phones in their book bags, but allow the kids to have that freedom to bring it or not," Daniels said. "Allow the parents to have that knowledge of ‘My child has their phone at school.' Give them that right."

It'll be up to each school to create a policy that determines what the ban looks like and in what situations it applies, the legislation says. Certain exceptions are also baked into the legislation, including when devices are necessary for the student's health, for an individualized learning plan, or when the student is a caregiver responsible for another family member.

Keeping phones under wraps, whether in backpacks or a designated storage place, is already commonplace at some Chicago public schools.

Students at Roberto Clemente Community Academy in West Town begin each morning by checking their devices into "cellphone lockers," according to the school's website.

For Cheniyah Kidd, a rising senior at the school, the new ban doesn't change much. She's already annoyed that her phone is locked up during the day. But like some parents, she also worries about having access to her phone in case of an emergency, she said.

"What if we have a family emergency? What if we need to contact someone in our family? What if a (school) emergency is going on?" Kidd said. "I will dislike it forever."

The policies are more relaxed at some CPS schools. At Lane Tech College Prep High School, phone use is limited to texting or looking at screens during nonclassroom times, but how students store their phones can vary by class and often depends on the teacher, according to the student handbook.

Having access to their devices throughout the school day, not just during designated break periods, is helpful in case of an emergency, according to Lane Tech rising senior Melissa Ocampo. While Ocampo doesn't find herself reaching for her phone during class, knowing a device nearby is a comfort for students and parents, she said.

"Whether if it's at lunch or if it's a classroom, or if it's a fire drill but it could turn into a real drill, or a lockdown drill that turns into a real lockdown drill - it's always safe for us students and the parents to know where we're at and what we're doing at all times," Ocampo said.

Results in some suburban schools

In suburban Chicago, wireless device policies also vary from school to school. Some schools have already taken steps to restrict phone access, including Glencoe District 35 and West Aurora School District 129.

The Illinois legislation falls in line with Glencoe District 35's current "Away for the Day" policy, which requires all personal devices to be stored in student lockers during the school day, Superintendent Catherine Wang said in a statement to the Tribune. It's a practice they've followed for years, Wang said.

"Our goal is to create a space where students are free to connect and engage in a distraction-free learning environment," she said.

In West Aurora School District 129, restrictions were tightened at the beginning of the school year and largely align with the statewide ban. Elementary and middle school students must keep phones off and away all day, while high schoolers can use their phones during times like study hall, passing periods and lunch, according to district staff.

The policy has brought consistency to the district, said David Sally, associate principal at West Aurora High School. Before the district changed its rules, an eight-period school day could look like eight different variations of cellphone policies depending on the teacher, he explained.

But teachers still have some flexibility in exactly how they enforce their district's ban, Sally said - classrooms have caddies where phones can be placed, or students can just make sure they're turned off and put away.

The first month of school with the restrictions was a hard shift for some students, rising West Aurora High School senior and football player Darius Stewart said. But now, a year in, the student body's adjusted - and reaped some benefits, according to Stewart.

"I would say I've seen more productiveness since, like from me, my friends, people in my classes," Stewart said, adding there are social benefits as well. "I have talked to, like, 100% more people than I would have."

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Tribune reporters Olivia Olander and Jack O'Connor contributed.

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This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 10:54 AM.