On May 6th, 2026, the Connecticut Senate is voting to ban cell phones in Connecticut schools. The house has already voted 117-31 for this ban. As students in Connecticut, we should stand up for our rights to use our phones. Banning phones would:

• Cost the state over $500,000 in resources like pouches to keep the phones in. These can be extremely expensive.  They are quoted at being $25-$30 per student, annually. For a single school district like Hartford, this can be over $500,000 per year that could have gone to teacher salaries or other resources for schools.
• Threats to high schools are extremely real. According to 2020-2024 data from the FBI, there were over 1 million school crime incidents and over 1.5 million victims. Keeping in mind these statistics included the peak of the Covid-19 Virus. As a student, connecting out of school is very important.
• More trivial communication is also integral. Our schedules change throughout the day. Clubs could be cancelled, or we decide to stay after school to talk with a teacher or spend time outside with friends. Late buses or weather events can cause parents to worry. 
• Learning digital literacy is important for people of a young age. The ability to use (possibly restricted) social media or messaging apps during the day teaches students how it will be in the future. Students going on to college or other futures will have their phones immediately after high school. Not knowing how to use them can cause issues in the future.