Senate orders third reading of model school device policy; creation rather than mandate

The Vermont Senate advanced S284, a strike-all education bill directing the Agency of Education to develop a model policy and guidance on student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices.

Senator from Rutland, the floor reporter for the education committee, said the bill replaces an earlier proposal for a broad ban with a model policy approach. The strike-all amendment requires the Secretary of Education to develop a model policy by Dec. 31, 2024, including permitted time periods, acceptable locations for device storage, exceptions for medical needs, and a process for parents to contact students during restricted times.

The bill asks the Agency of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, to submit a written report on Jan. 15, 2026, describing how many districts have adopted policies, how those policies differ from the state model and reasons why some districts may not adopt a policy. The reporter said adoption of the state model would be optional for districts.

Floor debate reflected differing views about classroom uses and mental-health concerns. One senator described the device problem as affecting students' ability to focus and mental health; another urged preserving the ability of high schools to use devices for education and communication. "Cell phones are basically a computer in our pockets," one senator observed, urging caution about an outright ban.

The education committee's report was adopted on the floor and the Senate ordered third reading of S284.

The measure is designed to produce guidance and data about district adoption, not to impose a mandatory statewide ban. The follow-up report is intended to give the Legislature information on how local practices evolve after a statewide model policy is available.