Janet Mills State of the State address
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Governor Janet Mills Announces Phone-Free Schools Initiative
** Statement from the Turn the Tide Coalition **
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The Turn the Tide Coalition applauds Maine Governor Janet Mills’ recent announcement of a statewide initiative making all Maine school days cell phone-free—from first bell to last bell—beginning in Fall 2026. This transformative action, announced during last night’s State of the State address, marks a major win for Maine’s children, families, and educators—and represents a meaningful step toward healthier, more focused learning environments across the state.
The Turn the Tide Coalition– a statewide network of more than 1,000 Maine parents, educators, experts, and healthcare professionals—has spent the past two years advocating for responsible technology use in schools while working with lawmakers to improve learning environments for Maine students.
For years, parents, teachers, and students have witnessed firsthand how nearly constant access to smartphones during the school day interferes with learning, social connection, and student well-being. Governor Mills’s leadership reflects what both research and lived experience have made clear: children learn, connect, and thrive best when they are fully present.
This policy sends a strong and necessary message that Maine is prioritizing:
Classroom focus and academic engagement
Student mental health and emotional well-being
Social development and school connectedness
Equitable learning environments for all students
We are deeply grateful to Governor Mills for listening to families, educators, and experts. Maine follows approximately 20 other states nationwide that have adopted bell-to-bell limits on student cell phone use throughout the school day.
The Turn the Tide Coalition, alongside aligned organizations across the country, looks forward to supporting districts as this policy is implemented thoughtfully and inclusively, with appropriate accommodations for medical needs and individualized education plans. Last night’s announcement represents progress, leadership, and hope, and we celebrate this moment with communities across Maine.
This is a win for kids. A win for classrooms and teachers. And a win for Maine.
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For more information, contact Stacy Taylor: 207-939-4000 | connect@turnthetidecoalition.org
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Let’s work together for Phone-free Maine Schools
The Turn the Tide Coalition is a resource for Maine school boards and school administrators wishing to adopt rules restricting the use of student cell phones and personal electronic devices. We also provide information and resources for parents, teachers and community members, and work with them to help establish phone-free schools in their local districts.
In the spring of 2025, a law was passed in Maine directing all Maine schools to draft cell phone policies. More about that law can be accessed here.
The below resources are specifically designed to help schools engage all stakeholders, minimize push-back, and facilitate a smooth transition to a phone-free school environment. With the growing recognition of the negative impact of smartphones on education and mental health, these resources provide necessary support to make impactful changes in our schools.
Need a place to start? Start here:
Letter of Support for Phone-Free Schools
Need more information, or wish to connect? Please reach out at connect@turnthetidecoalition.org.
“Since the cell phone ban at Deering High School, we have seen a dramatic improvement in student engagement. Students are now more focused during class discussions, more willing to open up and share their ideas. The engagement isn’t just happening in the classroom, either; it’s happening in unstructured conversations with peers and in casual conversations with staff. ... It feels a little like the world before the invention of the smartphone. ”
General Information
What happens when schools ban cell phones
CBS Evening News, Oct 29, 2025
A recent report estimates on average, America's young people spend over seven hours a day looking at a screen. Now more than two dozen states are limiting scrolling through phones while in school.
Information for Parents, Teachers and Advocates
“Schools should ensure that classroom learning and social time are phone-free experiences.”
-US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, in the the New York Times, June 17, 2024
