Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois Senate Bill SB2427 Latest Draft

Bill / Engrossed Version Filed 04/09/2025

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1  AN ACT concerning education.
2  Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3  represented in the General Assembly:
4  Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
5  10-20.88, 27A-5.3, and 34-18.14a as follows:
6  (105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new)
7  Sec. 10-20.88. Wireless communication device policy.
8  (a) As used in this Section:
9  "Instructional time" means the time during a school day
10  students spend learning and participating in school
11  activities. "Instructional time" does not include recess,
12  passing time, or lunch time.
13  "Wireless communication device" means any portable
14  wireless device that has the capability to provide voice,
15  messaging, or other data communication between 2 or more
16  parties, including, but not limited to:
17  (1) cellular telephones;
18  (2) tablet computers;
19  (3) laptop computers;
20  (4) gaming devices; and
21  (5) wearable devices, including smart watches or smart
22  glasses.
23  "Wireless communication device" does not include any device

 

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1  that a school district or teacher has directly issued to,
2  provided for, or required a student to possess and use for
3  educational purposes during instructional time.
4  (b) On or before the 2026-2027 school year, each school
5  board shall adopt and implement a wireless communication
6  device policy that:
7  (1) at a minimum, prohibits a student from using a
8  wireless communication device during instructional time,
9  except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (d);
10  and
11  (2) incorporates guidance for secure and accessible
12  storage of wireless devices during instructional time or
13  directs the district superintendent or his or her designee
14  to provide such guidance. However, this paragraph (2) does
15  not preclude a school district from prohibiting the use or
16  possession of wireless communication devices for students
17  not meeting one of the exceptions set forth in subsection
18  (c) or (d).
19  (c) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection
20  (b) may not prohibit a student from using a wireless
21  communication device during instructional time under the
22  following circumstances:
23  (1) if a licensed physician determines that the
24  possession or use of a wireless communication device is
25  necessary for the health or well-being of the student and
26  the student uses the wireless communication device as

 

 

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1  prescribed by the licensed physician;
2  (2) to fulfill an individualized education program or
3  a plan developed under Section 504 of the federal
4  Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or
5  (3) if the wireless communication device is necessary
6  for students who are English learners, as defined in
7  Section 14C-2 of this Code, to access learning materials.
8  (d) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection
9  (b) may allow for the following exceptions:
10  (1) if school personnel have authorized the student to
11  use a wireless communication device for educational
12  purposes; and
13  (2) in the event of an emergency as detailed in at
14  least one of the school district's emergency and crises
15  response plans, protocols, or procedures.
16  (e) No school district may enforce the wireless
17  communication device policy through fees, fines, or the
18  deployment of a school resource officer or local law
19  enforcement officer.
20  (f) Each school board shall review its wireless
21  communication device policy at least once every 3 years and
22  make any necessary and appropriate revisions to the policy.
23  (g) A school district shall publicly post the policy
24  adopted and implemented under subsection (b) on its website.
25  If the school district does not operate a website, then the
26  school district shall provide a copy of the policy adopted and

 

 

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1  implemented under subsection (b) to the parents or guardians
2  of every student enrolled in the school district.
3  (105 ILCS 5/27A-5.3 new)
4  Sec. 27A-5.3. Wireless communication device policy.
5  (a) As used in this Section:
6  "Instructional time" means the time during a school day
7  students spend learning and participating in school
8  activities. "Instructional time" does not include recess,
9  passing time, or lunch time.
10  "Wireless communication device" means any portable
11  wireless device that has the capability to provide voice,
12  messaging, or other data communication between 2 or more
13  parties, including, but not limited to:
14  (1) cellular telephones;
15  (2) tablet computers;
16  (3) laptop computers;
17  (4) gaming devices; and
18  (5) wearable devices, including smart watches or smart
19  glasses.
20  "Wireless communication device" does not include any device
21  that a charter school or teacher has directly issued to,
22  provided for, or required a student to possess and use for
23  educational purposes during instructional time.
24  (b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each charter
25  school shall adopt and implement a wireless communication

 

 

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1  device policy that:
2  (1) at a minimum, prohibits a student from using a
3  wireless communication device during instructional time,
4  except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (d);
5  and
6  (2) incorporates guidance for secure and accessible
7  storage of wireless devices during instructional time.
8  However, this paragraph (2) does not preclude a charter
9  school from prohibiting the use or possession of wireless
10  communication devices for students not meeting one of the
11  exceptions set forth in subsection (c) or (d).
12  (c) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection
13  (b) may not prohibit a student from using a wireless
14  communication device during instructional time under the
15  following circumstances:
16  (1) if a licensed physician determines that the
17  possession or use of a wireless communication device is
18  necessary for the health or well-being of the student and
19  the student uses the wireless communication device as
20  prescribed by the licensed physician;
21  (2) to fulfill an individualized education program or
22  a plan developed under Section 504 of the federal
23  Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or
24  (3) if the wireless communication device is necessary
25  for students who are English learners, as defined in
26  Section 14C-2 of this Code, to access learning materials.

 

 

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1  (d) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection
2  (b) may allow for the following exceptions:
3  (1) if school personnel have authorized the student to
4  use a wireless communication device for educational
5  purposes; and
6  (2) in the event of an emergency as detailed in at
7  least one of the charter school's emergency and crises
8  response plans, protocols, or procedures.
9  (e) No charter school may enforce the wireless
10  communication device policy through fees, fines, or the
11  deployment of a school resource officer or local law
12  enforcement officer.
13  (f) A charter school shall review its wireless
14  communication device policy at least once every 3 years and
15  make any necessary and appropriate revisions to the policy.
16  (g) A charter school shall publicly post the policy
17  adopted and implemented under subsection (b) on its website.
18  If the charter school does not operate a website, then the
19  charter school shall provide a copy of the policy adopted and
20  implemented under subsection (b) to the parents or guardians
21  of every student enrolled in the charter school.
22  (105 ILCS 5/34-18.14a new)
23  Sec. 34-18.14a. Wireless communication device policy.
24  (a) As used in this Section:
25  "Instructional time" means the time during a school day

 

 

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1  students spend learning and participating in school
2  activities. "Instructional time" does not include recess,
3  passing time, or lunch time.
4  "Wireless communication device" means any portable
5  wireless device that has the capability to provide voice,
6  messaging, or other data communication between 2 or more
7  parties, including, but not limited to:
8  (1) cellular telephones;
9  (2) tablet computers;
10  (3) laptop computers;
11  (4) gaming devices; and
12  (5) wearable devices, including smart watches or smart
13  glasses.
14  "Wireless communication device" does not include any device
15  that the school district or teacher has directly issued to,
16  provided for, or required a student to possess and use for
17  educational purposes during instructional time.
18  (b) On or before the 2026-2027 school year, the board
19  shall adopt and implement a wireless communication device
20  policy that:
21  (1) at a minimum, prohibits a student from using a
22  wireless communication device during instructional time,
23  except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (d);
24  and
25  (2) incorporates guidance for secure and accessible
26  storage of wireless devices during instructional time or

 

 

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1  directs the general superintendent of schools or his or
2  her designee to provide such guidance. However, this
3  paragraph (2) does not preclude the school district from
4  prohibiting the use or possession of wireless
5  communication devices for students not meeting one of the
6  exceptions set forth in subsection (c) or (d).
7  (c) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection
8  (b) may not prohibit a student from using a wireless
9  communication device during instructional time under the
10  following circumstances:
11  (1) if a licensed physician determines that the
12  possession or use of a wireless communication device is
13  necessary for the health or well-being of the student and
14  the student uses the wireless communication device as
15  prescribed by the licensed physician;
16  (2) to fulfill an individualized education program or
17  a plan developed under Section 504 of the federal
18  Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or
19  (3) if the wireless communication device is necessary
20  for students who are English learners, as defined in
21  Section 14C-2 of this Code, to access learning materials.
22  (d) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection
23  (b) may allow for the following exceptions:
24  (1) if school personnel have authorized the student to
25  use a wireless communication device for educational
26  purposes; and

 

 

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1  (2) in the event of an emergency as detailed in at
2  least one of the school district's emergency and crises
3  response plans, protocols, or procedures.
4  (e) The school district may not enforce the wireless
5  communication device policy through fees, fines, or the
6  deployment of a school resource officer or local law
7  enforcement officer.
8  (f) The board shall review its wireless communication
9  device policy at least once every 3 years and make any
10  necessary and appropriate revisions to the policy.
11  (g) The school district shall publicly post the policy
12  adopted and implemented under subsection (b) on its website.

 

 

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