Janet Mills Holds Ceremonial Signing for Statewide Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone Ban at Westbrook High School

Gov. Janet Mills (D) held an event at Westbrook High School earlier this week celebrating a new policy that was signed into law as part of the supplemental budget which bars students from having cell phones in public schools during the day.

The statewide bell-to-bell ban represents a departure from the policy adopted by lawmakers this past summer which directed school boards to develop their own approach to regulating student cell phone use during the school day.

Although that measure originated as a statewide cell phone ban, it was later amended to preserve local control.

All members of the Education Committee who voted in support of this measure at the time backed the version leaving it up to the districts to adopt their own policies.

[RELATED: All Maine School Boards Have Just Over a Year to Decide on Their Student Cell Phone Use Policies]

Part GG of the state’s supplemental budget, however, mandates that all school boards “implement a policy prohibiting student use of personal electronic devices for the duration of the school day, from starting bell to dismissal bell.”

Student use of “cellular telephones and other personal electronic devices with Internet or cellular network capabilities” must be restricted.

The Department of Education and the Maine School Management Association are to coordinate in the development of a model policy that school boards may adopt.

Exceptions must be included in this model policy for compliance with a student’s individualized education program, a documented accommodation, the provision of medical care, or to fulfill translation needs when no other option is available.

School boards must have such a policy in place by August 1, 2026.

[RELATED: Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone Bans Coming Soon to All Maine School Districts]

Gov. Mills was joined by legislators, students and faculty from Westbrook High School, and other prominent individuals as she ceremonially signed this portion of the budget Wednesday.

“Teachers and students both want to move away from distracting devices and back towards moments spent learning with each other — that’s why I was proud to propose this ‘Bell to Bell, No Cell’ ban and sign it into law,” said Mills.

“Students socializing together instead of endlessly scrolling alone, building a strong community instead of basing their self-esteem on social media, spending time on learning, not struggling to let go of an addictive phone — that’s what getting cell phones out of our classrooms will do,” she said.

Also speaking at the event was Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin, among others.

“The Maine Department of Education has heard from educators, administrators, and students statewide about the ways in which personal electronic devices such as cell phones can detract from the learning experience at school,” said Makin. “We are committed to supporting districts as they implement clear, effective policies that reduce distractions in the classroom.”

Click Here to Read Gov. Janet Mills’ Full Press Release