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1    AN ACT concerning education.

2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:

4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections 
510-20.88, 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 
10students spend learning and participating in school 
11activities. "Instructional time" does not include recess, 
12passing time, or lunch time.    
13    "Wireless communication device" means any portable 
14wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, 
15messaging, or other data communication between 2 or more 
16parties, 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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1that a school district or teacher has directly issued to, 
2provided for, or required a student to possess and use for 
3educational purposes during instructional time.
4    (b) On or before the 2026-2027 school year, each school 
5board shall adopt and implement a wireless communication 
6device 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 
21communication device during instructional time under the 
22following 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 
17communication device policy through fees, fines, or the 
18deployment of a school resource officer or local law 
19enforcement officer.
20    (f) Each school board shall review its wireless 
21communication device policy at least once every 3 years and 
22make any necessary and appropriate revisions to the policy.
23    (g) A school district shall publicly post the policy 
24adopted and implemented under subsection (b) on its website. 
25If the school district does not operate a website, then the 
26school district shall provide a copy of the policy adopted and 
 
 
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1implemented under subsection (b) to the parents or guardians 
2of 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 
7students spend learning and participating in school 
8activities. "Instructional time" does not include recess, 
9passing time, or lunch time.    
10    "Wireless communication device" means any portable 
11wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, 
12messaging, or other data communication between 2 or more 
13parties, 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 
21that a charter school or teacher has directly issued to, 
22provided for, or required a student to possess and use for 
23educational purposes during instructional time.
24    (b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each charter 
25school shall adopt and implement a wireless communication 
 
 
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1device 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 
14communication device during instructional time under the 
15following 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 
10communication device policy through fees, fines, or the 
11deployment of a school resource officer or local law 
12enforcement officer.
13    (f) A charter school shall review its wireless 
14communication device policy at least once every 3 years and 
15make any necessary and appropriate revisions to the policy.
16    (g) A charter school shall publicly post the policy 
17adopted and implemented under subsection (b) on its website. 
18If the charter school does not operate a website, then the 
19charter school shall provide a copy of the policy adopted and 
20implemented under subsection (b) to the parents or guardians 
21of 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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1students spend learning and participating in school 
2activities. "Instructional time" does not include recess, 
3passing time, or lunch time.    
4    "Wireless communication device" means any portable 
5wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, 
6messaging, or other data communication between 2 or more 
7parties, 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 
15that the school district or teacher has directly issued to, 
16provided for, or required a student to possess and use for 
17educational purposes during instructional time.
18    (b) On or before the 2026-2027 school year, the board 
19shall adopt and implement a wireless communication device 
20policy 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 
9communication device during instructional time under the 
10following 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 
5communication device policy through fees, fines, or the 
6deployment of a school resource officer or local law 
7enforcement officer.
8    (f) The board shall review its wireless communication 
9device policy at least once every 3 years and make any 
10necessary and appropriate revisions to the policy.
11    (g) The school district shall publicly post the policy 
12adopted and implemented under subsection (b) on its website.