Rep. Jill Cooper of Westmoreland announced on June 2 her support for House Bill 1814, a proposal that would prohibit the use of cellular phones in Pennsylvania schools during instructional hours.
Cooper said, “I voted in favor of the legislation to implement a bell-to-bell restriction on cell phone use in schools because it directly addresses two urgent challenges facing our students today: declining mental health and increased classroom distraction.” She emphasized the state’s responsibility under the Pennsylvania Constitution to provide a thorough and efficient system of public education, stating, “That obligation is not just about funding – it is about ensuring that students have a learning environment where they can focus, engage and succeed. When constant digital distractions interfere with instruction, that constitutional standard is harder to meet. This legislation is a reasonable and necessary step toward upholding that responsibility.”
She cited research showing negative impacts from mobile device usage: “The average teenager receives hundreds of notifications a day – often multiple during a single class period – which significantly disrupts attention and academic performance. Beyond distraction, increased phone use has been linked to higher rates of cyberbullying, anxiety and social isolation.” Cooper added that while this policy will not solve all mental health issues among students, it provides more opportunities for face-to-face interaction by reducing distractions.
Cooper pointed out strong support for such restrictions among both educators and the public: “Polling shows that approximately 72% of Pennsylvania voters support a bell-to-bell ban on cell phones in schools. Among educators, support is even stronger – about 84% of Pennsylvania teachers favor a full school-day restriction. In the 55th District, roughly 70% of respondents supported restricting cell phone use during instructional time.”
She explained that House Bill 1814 aims to balance statewide consistency with local control by allowing districts flexibility in implementation: “Schools can adopt approaches that work for their communities… whether that means secure storage, powered-off devices, or other systems such as allowing students to keep their cell phone in their backpack throughout the school day if they are turned off.” The bill allows exceptions for educational purposes approved by principals and ensures parents are informed about policies.
“The goal with House Bill 1814 is not to punish learners,” Cooper said, “but instead to create an environment where teachers can teach, learning can thrive and students can reach their academic potential.”
Cooper participates in community organizations like the Franklin Regional Panther Foundation and Westmoreland Community Action; she resides with her husband Leighton; graduated from Plum Senior High School and Grove City College; serves on committees including Education; Labor and Industry; Tourism; Economic and Recreational Development; Local Government; Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness; held leadership roles such as vice president at an Alcoa subsidiary; spent fourteen years at Alcoa Corporation—according to the official website.
