The bill amends Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws by introducing a new section, 16-21-43, which requires each public school to establish a policy regarding the use of personal electronic devices on school grounds and during school-sponsored activities. The purpose of this policy is to reduce distractions, maintain environments focused on learning, and protect the privacy and safety of students and staff. Schools must notify parents or guardians of all students attending the school about this policy, which must include a prohibition on physical access to personal electronic devices by students during the school day, as defined by the Department of Education and the Commission of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The policy must allow exceptions for the use of personal devices that provide access to assistive technology necessary for compliance with individualized student 504 plans, individualized education plans (IEPs), medical needs such as glucose monitoring, and plans to support emergent multilingual learners (MLL) with appropriate language access programs and services. These exceptions must be documented in the student's identified plan and approved by the appropriate team or coordinator. Students granted exceptions shall not be segregated from their peers, and exceptions must also be made in emergencies.

The bill defines a personal electronic device as any smartphone, mobile phone, tablet, computer, smartwatch, or other electronic device not owned or provided by the school that is capable of communication through the Internet or a wireless network. The school committee, in conjunction with the superintendent or the board of trustees of a charter school, is responsible for prescribing the policy and any standards and rules enforcing it, ensuring consistent enforcement by school administration to minimize potential conflicts among students, parents, educators, and staff.

Additionally, no school official, employee, or agent of the school is permitted to search the contents of any personal electronic device retained by the school during school hours and not in the student's possession in a locked pouch or container. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in consultation with the Attorney General's office and the Department of Public Health, will provide guidance and recommendations to assist schools in developing and implementing effective policies regarding personal electronic devices, which will be made publicly available on the department's website. This guidance will be reviewed annually and updated to reflect applicable research and best practices. Each school district and charter school is required to file its personal electronic device use policy with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in a manner prescribed by the department. This act is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.