Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today signed H.480, among other amendments to education law, the bill includes a "phone-free" in schools policy that has received wide support in Vermont and nationally.
On June 27, Governor Scott signed bills of the following titles:
- H.480, An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law
When signing H.480, Governor Scott issued the following statement:
“This bill includes many technical changes but also takes a meaningful step forward to develop and implement a “phone-free” policy in schools across Vermont. The things our cell phones can do today are amazing; however, the one area they seem to be very good at, is their ability to distract us from everything. We need kids to be focused on learning, interacting with their peers, teachers, and friends while they’re at school. And it’s clear now that phones can get in the way of important conversations and class discussions and can also be used for harmful interactions, like bullying. Taking a break from our phones is probably a good policy for all of us to follow – and hopefully, find that healthy balance we could all use a little more of.”
The policy will go into effect for the 2026-27 school year.
The Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Vermont School
11 Boards Association, the Vermont Independent School Association, and a
12 representative from the Vermont Coalition for Phone and Social Media Free
13 Schools, shall develop, and review at least annually, a policy to, subject to the
14 exceptions in subdivision (2) of this subsection, prohibit student use of cell
15 phones and non-school-issued personal electronic devices that connect to
16 cellular networks, the internet, or have wireless capabilities at school from
17 arrival to dismissal.
18 (2) The model policy shall provide exceptions for students to use a cell
19 phone or personal electronic device if such use is:
20 (A) required as part of a student’s individualized health care plan,
21 individualized education program, or 504 plan, which shall be documented
AS PASSED BY HOUSE AND SENATE H.480
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1 according to applicable State and federal law; provided, however, that if such
2 use is required to meet an international student’s special education needs or as
3 part of a disability accommodation, and the international student does not have
4 an individualized education program or 504 plan, the need for such use shall be
5 documented in a manner the school deems appropriate;
6 (B) approved by an administrator for an academic, school-sponsored
7 athletic, or cocurricular purpose, for the most limited use reasonably possible;
8 or
9 (C) required for compliance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless
10 Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11431–11435.
Last summer several VT middle and high schools adopted policies that create an entirely phone-free school day.
Newsweek reports that according to the Pew Research Center polling data released in June 2024, 72 percent of high school teachers say phone distractions are a major problem. As of June 2025, 14 states have active laws or executive orders that ban or restrict cell phone use in schools. Proponents argue that it benefits student attainment and improves mental health.
6.27.2025. Montpelier, Vt. - Governor