* Pritzker press release…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined students, educators, and state leaders at Oak Park and River Forest High School to advocate for a cell phone ban in Illinois classrooms, a critical measure that would support Illinois teachers and help students across the state reach their full potential. Governor Pritzker championed the initiative during his annual State of the State budget address.

“Strong schools are the foundation to our success as a state. This year, I am proposing legislation that requires school districts to adopt a cell phone policy that keeps students focused on the work in class,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We owe it to our kids to cultivate the healthiest, most productive learning environment possible — this proposal will help us do just that.”

The proposed legislation would require all school districts and charter schools in Illinois to adopt a policy limiting the use of wireless communication devices on school grounds during the day — from “bell to bell.” As 72% of high school teachers identify cell phone distraction as a “major problem” in their classrooms, Governor Pritzker is taking action to support educators in the digital age.

Research shows that cell phone overuse among teenagers can lead to anxiety, depression, issues with sleep, and other mental health issues stemming from cyberbullying and social media. Studies have also linked more stringent cell phone polices to fewer distractions — allowing students to better learn and socialize. By reducing phone use in the classroom, Illinois would be reducing serious risks and distractions among students at a critical time in their lives.

“Our teachers deserve classrooms where they can focus on teaching and students can focus on learning,” said State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders. “A clear, consistent cell phone policy will empower local school districts to create distraction-free environments that support academic growth, strengthen student engagement, and promote student well-being. By setting thoughtful boundaries around cell phone use — while preserving critical exceptions for health, accessibility, and safety — this legislation is designed to help students thrive both in the classroom and beyond.”

* Illinois Federation of Teachers…

IFT: Mandates in Education Matter, the Governor Should Start with Complying with the Evidence-Based Formula and Mandated Support for Special Education, Meals, and Transportation

SPRINGFIELD, IL - In response to the Governor pushing forward a cell phone ban in Illinois schools, Illinois Federation of Teachers Executive Vice President Cyndi Oberle-Dahm issued the following statement raising questions regarding the new reality of Illinoisans facing federal occupation and the existing funding mandates that the Governor ignored in his eighth budget proposal presented earlier this week:

“Governor JB Pritzker is suggesting Illinois mandate what happens with students’ phones during the school day but he is ignoring his own legal mandates governing what happens with students in special education, student breakfast and lunches, and to fully fund all of our public schools. The state of Illinois owes its students $6 billion dollars for pre-K to PhD, and that is where the Governor should start.

“Schools already have the authority to set cell phone policies, but what they cannot do is fund themselves or the cellphone lockers or pockets that will be required to enforce this unfunded mandate. Only the Governor can ultimately meet the state’s funding obligation.

“Teachers know cell phones can be distracting – we manage that every single day. And, in communities living with real fear about ICE and family safety, phones are also lifelines. We saw that in Chicago, Aurora, Franklin Park, and anywhere federal agents have spread their terror. In times like that, communication is not theoretical. It is about safety.

“What educators will tell you is that creating more unfunded mandates while failing to fund the ones already on the books – special education, nutritional supports for hungry children, and school transportation – is out of order. As federal school funding has vanished and the White House demands governors drain public schools even more by implementing Trump’s national voucher program, the state is failing to step up, appropriating just $5 million more toward what amounts to a $5 billion gap in its own evidence-based funding formula. Students already feel that gap in the form of larger class sizes, buildings that go uncleaned, cuts to crossing guards, counselors overwhelmed with caseloads - if they have counselors at all - and less access to honors, sports, music, and extracurriculars from Rochester to Chicago to Rockford and across the state.

“If mandates matter, the Governor should start with his own. If he put this same energy into meeting the school funding law, our students would be far better served and schools would have cellphone lockers already.”