3 Pennsylvania lawmakers will introduce legislation to make all schools phone-free
The bipartisan bill is sponsored by State Sen. Devlin Robinson, a Republican representing part of Allegheny County, along with two Democrats who represent Philadelphia and Bucks County.
They cite the growing body of research showing the harms of smartphone use in kids and teenagers, including mental health challenges and declining test scores. They also point to a poll of teachers showing 83% want phones banned the entire day, and many parents have reached out to Sen. Robinson about the issue.
"I've heard from a lot of parents in my district that they are tired of their children being distracted in schools," Robinson says. "Think about how much money it costs to educate students. Do you want your investment to be distracted and derailed at schools? Students are there for a reason. They're there for learning. They're there for reading, writing and arithmetic, and the phone is getting in the way."
Two-thirds of states have enacted cell phone restrictions in schools, and 17 have what's known as "bell to bell" policies, where schools are phone-free the entire day, including lunch and in hallways.
Robinson says he intends for the Pennsylvania legislation to be "bell to bell," but let school boards decide the details and how to enforce it.
He intends to introduce the legislation this fall.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
5 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Bryce Harper and His Nine Figures Can't Front MLB's Pay Fight
Bryce Harper, star first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, got in the face of Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred during a team meeting recently. Manfred, according to ESPN, was discussing baseball's challenging economics. Harper, who is in the midst of a $330 million contract, used an expletive to tell the commissioner to leave if he intended to talk about a salary cap. Manfred fired back, and then cooler heads eventually prevailed, allowing the meeting to continue — without a salary cap discussion. The now-infamous confrontation is just the latest skirmish in an intensifying battle between MLB owners and players over how to fairly distribute baseball's riches and maintain competitive balance. The league and its owners believe a salary cap is a tool that can accomplish both goals. The players' union, which has long opposed a cap, argues that the concept will only serve to protect the economic interests of owners.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Who Would Benefit the Most From Trump's $1K Baby Savings Accounts?
Now that President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' has been signed into law, many families with newborns can expect to receive $1,000 to invest in their child's future. Referred to as 'Trump Accounts,' they're designed to encourage families to begin investing in a child's future from birth and enjoy the benefits of compound interest. Read Next: Explore More: But is everyone really going to benefit from this plan? Let's explore the details of these Trump Accounts and who they could be most useful for. Who Is Eligible for the $1K? With these accounts, every child born a U.S. citizen with a Social Security number between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, will receive a $1,000 deposit from the U.S. government into the account. Find Out: How Will Trump Accounts Work? Setting up your newborn for a Trump Account can be done in a couple of different ways. Parents or guardians can open the account in their child's name. If not, the Treasury Department could open it, per Kiplinger. Once the account is open, $1,000 will be deposited for those who qualify. There are some restrictions on these accounts that parents should be aware of. There will be a $5,000 yearly contribution limit for each year before the child turns 18. No distributions are allowed until the first day of the year when the child turns 18. After the child turns 18, the account will follow traditional IRA rules. All contributions made to the account before the child's 18th year will be made with after-tax dollars. This means parents will not be able to deduct their contributions from their taxes. Accounts can be used for college expenses, to start a business or to purchase a home. Who Would Benefit From Trump Accounts? Who would benefit from these Trump Accounts will be something that's heavily debated. 'The $1,000 baby savings account is a simple but powerful idea,' said Tim Rosenberger, fellow at the Manhattan Institute. 'It gives every American child, not just those born into privilege, a small but meaningful stake in the nation's future. That's the kind of ownership society that puts America first.' According to Rosenberg, this could benefit working families. 'A universal savings account at birth offers a new kind of opportunity infrastructure. It won't solve every problem, but it's a strong first signal that the country is serious about helping working families build intergenerational stability,' he said. While these accounts may be a good first step, however, they may not always provide the best option for saving for a child's future. 'Everyone eligible for the $1,000 should make sure they get it, but that alone is not enough to set aside for your kids' education or set them up for generational wealth,' said Dave Fortin, co-founder and investment advisor with FutureMoney. '529 plans are a better option than Trump accounts if you're saving for education. When you make a qualified withdrawal from a 529 plan, it's tax-free and penalty-free. Trump accounts are tax-deferred, meaning when the withdrawal eventually happens, the money counts as ordinary income, so income taxes are owed.' Ultimately, while all eligible families should take advantage of the free money being offered, it's important to consider the long-term implications. Before making additional contributions, make sure the account aligns with your child's savings goals. Editor's note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on More From GOBankingRates 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025 25 Places To Buy a Home If You Want It To Gain Value 6 Big Shakeups Coming to Social Security in 2025 This article originally appeared on Who Would Benefit the Most From Trump's $1K Baby Savings Accounts? Sign in to access your portfolio
Fox News
6 hours ago
- Fox News
Mamdani eyes former 'Squad' member for top education position in NYC
CUNY law professor Jeffrey Lax joins 'Fox & Friends Weekend' to discuss Zohran Mamdani reportedly considering former Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., for a top education position in New York City.
