WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 22, 2026 – Leading child safety and well-being organizations, The Anxious Generation Movement, Smartphone Free Childhood US, Institute for Families and Technology, and Becca Schmill Foundation, announced today that Maine’s new law earned a “B” grade on the Phone-Free Schools State Report Card.
LD 2212, Governor Janet Mills’ supplemental budget proposal, requires school boards to adopt and implement a policy prohibiting student use of personal electronic devices for the entire school day, or from “bell-to-bell," by August 1, 2026. The bill also allocates $350,000 to support implementation during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Maine previously received a “D” on the initial Phone-Free Schools State Report Card published earlier this year as the state’s policy directed school districts to adopt their own policies without establishing a baseline standard.
“We want to thank Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) and Rep. Holly Sargent (D-ME) for their leadership delivering a statewide bell-to-bell policy,” said Emily Rapp, director of public policy for the Institute for Families and Technology. “We applaud Maine for becoming the 23rd state to ensure students and teachers benefit from distraction-free learning environments for the entire school day.”
“Maine’s efforts reflect the growing momentum we’re seeing nationwide of states strengthening their existing laws and mandating gold-standard policies,” said Deb Schmill, founder of the Becca Schmill Foundation. “This new legislation also empowers districts by providing dedicated funding to support implementation this next fiscal year.”
Under the Report Card’s criteria, an “A” grade is awarded when legislation requires all personal electronic devices to be stored in secure, inaccessible locations from bell-to-bell. Bell-to-bell policies are proven to enhance academic performance, improve students’ mental and physical health, increase teacher satisfaction, protect student safety and privacy, and deepen school community relationships.
More information about Maine’s grade can be found here.
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About the Phone-Free Schools State Report Card
Launched in 2026, the Phone-Free Schools State Report Card is published by leading child safety and well-being organizations, including The Anxious Generation Movement, Smartphone Free Childhood US, Institute for Families and Technology, and Becca Schmill Foundation. The report evaluates whether the laws in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., meet the gold standard for phone-free schools: policies requiring all students to store their personal electronic devices in secure, inaccessible locations for the entire school day (bell-to-bell).