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 policy aims to reduce distractions, maintain a learning-focused environment, and protect the privacy and safety of students and staff. Schools must notify parents or guardians of the policy, which must include a prohibition on student access to personal electronic devices during the school day, as defined by the Department of Education and the Commission of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The policy allows for exceptions for student personal device use that provide access to assistive technology necessary to comply with individualized student 504 plans, individualized education plans (IEP), 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 to the policy shall not be segregated from their peers, and exceptions are also permitted in emergencies.

The school committee, in conjunction with the superintendent or the board of trustees of a charter school, will prescribe the policy and enforce it consistently. The policy must be systematic in nature and should minimize potential conflicts between students, parents, educators, and staff. 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 unless it is 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, is responsible for providing guidance and recommendations to assist schools in developing and implementing effective policies regarding the use of personal electronic devices. This guidance must be publicly available on the department's website and reviewed annually 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 and form prescribed by the department. This act is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.