This Amendment does all of the following: (1) Provides a citation that supports the evidence offered in a Whereas clause.

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is missing from the official metadata provided.

Amendment on School Cell Phone Policies

This amendment adds a citation and survey results about cell phone pouches in schools, defines key terms like 'cell phone' and 'instructional time', requires plans to monitor discipline data, provides sample policy language for districts, and changes the deadline for posting policies online.

What This Bill Does

• Adds a citation from a 2024 Division of Legislative Services Issue Brief to support evidence in the bill's background section.
• Includes survey results showing that 83% of teachers and staff supported cell phone pouches, while student respondents expressed dissatisfaction with them.
• Defines 'cell phone' as a portable electronic device used for voice calls, text messages, or Internet access.
• Defines 'instructional time' as educator-led time dedicated to teaching and learning.
• Requires school district and charter school policies to include a plan to monitor discipline data related to student cell phone use policy violations.
• Directs the Department of Education to provide model language that schools may use when developing their own cell phone policies.
• Changes the deadline for posting adopted cell phone policies online from January 1, 2026, to August 31, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• School districts and charter schools
• The Department of Education

Terms To Know

Cell phone

A portable electronic device used for communication through voice calls, text messages, or Internet access.

Instructional time

Educator-led time dedicated to teaching and learning.

Limits and Unknowns

• The official material does not state when the new law will officially take effect.
• School districts may choose whether or not to use the model language provided by the Department of Education.
• The text requires a plan to monitor discipline data but does not specify how schools must collect or report that data.

Official Summary Text

This Amendment does all of the following:
(1) Provides a citation that supports the evidence offered in a Whereas clause.
(2) Adds to the Whereas clauses Delaware Department of Education (Department) post-survey data results from teachers, staff, and students, who participated in the School Cell Phone Pilot Program.
(3) Adds definitions.
(4) Requires school district and charter school policies to include a plan to monitor discipline data related to student cell phone use policy violations.
(5) Requires the Department to assist with the development of cell phone use policies by providing school districts and charter schools with model language that the school districts and charter schools may use. This may promote consistency while preserving local control.
(6) Incorporates the amendment proposed in HA 1 into this Amendment for ease and efficiency. HA 1 to SB 106, as amended, proposes to change the date that school districts and charter schools must post their adopted cell phone policies online from January 1, 2026, to August 31, 2026.

Current Bill Text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. K. Williams

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2

TO

SENATE BILL NO. 106

AMEND Senate Bill No. 106, as amended, on line 6 by inserting “according to a 2024 Division of Legislative Services Issue Brief,” after the comma and before “evidence” therein.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 106, as amended, after line 16 and before line 17 by inserting the following:

“WHEREAS, according to Department of Education surveys of teachers, staff, and students conducted after participation in the School Cell Phone Pilot Program, 83% of teachers and staff respondents were in favor of the pouches and 60% of those teachers and staff also reported positive changes in student behavior, student academic performance, or classroom management, while student respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the use of the cell phone pouches; and”.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 106, as amended, after line 23 and before line 24 by inserting the following and redesignating accordingly:

“

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Cell phone” means a portable electronic device used for communication through voice calls, text messages, or Internet access.

(2) “Instructional time” means educator-led time dedicated to teaching and learning.

”.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 106, as amended, after line 33 and before line 34 by inserting the following:

“

(7) A plan to monitor discipline data related to student cell phone use policy violations.

”.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 106, as amended, after line 43, by inserting the following:

“

(g) The Department shall provide school districts and charter schools with model language that the school districts and charter schools may use to support the development of cell phone use policies.

”.

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 106, as amended, by deleting “

January 1, 2026,

” on line 2 of Senate Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill No. 106 and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “

August 31, 2026,

”.

SYNOPSIS

This Amendment does all of the following:

(1) Provides a citation that supports the evidence offered in a Whereas clause.

(2) Adds to the Whereas clauses Delaware Department of Education (Department) post-survey data results from teachers, staff, and students, who participated in the School Cell Phone Pilot Program.

(3) Adds definitions.

(4) Requires school district and charter school policies to include a plan to monitor discipline data related to student cell phone use policy violations.

(5) Requires the Department to assist with the development of cell phone use policies by providing school districts and charter schools with model language that the school districts and charter schools may use. This may promote consistency while preserving local control.

(6) Incorporates the amendment proposed in HA 1 into this Amendment for ease and efficiency. HA 1 to SB 106, as amended, proposes to change the date that school districts and charter schools must post their adopted cell phone policies online from January 1, 2026, to August 31, 2026.