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DRAZEN/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

The federal government reports that most elementary and middle schools ban nonacademic use of cellphones (NCES, 2024). Three out of four public schools prohibit the use of cellphones or smartphones for nonacademic purposes during school hours. In the 2021-22 school year, a higher percentage of elementary schools (87%), middle schools (77%), and schools with combined grades (70%) reported having policies against nonacademic cellphone use, compared to high/secondary schools (43%). Overall, three main trends can be observed regarding cellphone policies in schools.

State banning laws

As of July 2024, at least six states have passed laws or enacted policies that ban or restrict students’ use of cellphones in schools statewide or encourage local districts to enact their own bans.

• Florida was the first state to pass a law barring students from using “wireless communication devices” such as cellphones during instructional time. The law also targets students’ social media use, banning access on school internet and requiring schools to teach students in grades 6-12 about the social, emotional, and physical effects of social media. Since July 1, 2023, students can only use cellphones in class for educational purposes, with their teacher’s permission and within a designated area.
• Indiana requires districts and charter schools to adopt policies prohibiting students from using “any portable wireless device,” including cellphones, tablets, and laptops, during instructional time after July 1, 2024. Exceptions are allowed for educational purposes with a teacher’s permission, emergencies, managing students’ health needs, and requirements in a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
• Ohio state law mandates that, after July 1, 2024, all districts must create policies governing students’ cellphone use during the school day, aiming to limit usage. Exceptions include students needing cellphones for health monitoring or special education services. The state’s education department must develop a model policy for districts to reference.
• In South Carolina, a provision in the 2025 state budget bans cellphone usage in classrooms and withholds school funding from districts failing to follow state regulations. The State Board of Education has warned that funding will be withdrawn if the “cellphone ban” is not met.
• On July 9, 2024, the governor of Virginia signed an executive order directing the state department of education to issue guidelines for establishing cellphone-free education in K-12 schools. School districts must adopt “policies and procedures” by January 2025.
• The Alabama State Board of Education passed a resolution “strongly encouraging” but not requiring local boards of education to adopt policies limiting the use of cellphones and other electronic communication devices on school property.
• In Oregon, officials at the Department of Education are working on guidance regarding cellphone use in schools. This guidance, expected to be released this fall, will focus on research and support to help districts and schools set local policies related to cellphone use.

Banning policies voted by school boards

Many school districts implement cellphone use policies through local democratic governance.

• Arizona: The Bullhead City School District board approved a plan to limit students’ cellphone use for the upcoming school year.
• California: The Los Angeles school board voted 5-2 to ban cellphones during the school day, starting in the spring 2025 semester.
• Maine: Increasingly, districts are voting to ban smartphones in middle and high schools. Over 30 school districts across the state now have bans in place, with many more considering it.
• Texas: Several school districts have enacted or are considering bans on cellphone use during the school day. This has led to some pushback, including a student protest walkout earlier this year at a Houston-area high school that had a policy requiring students to surrender their phones upon arrival and retrieve them at dismissal.

Creative approaches to student cellphone issues

Many students do not support banning mobile phones in classrooms, and not all parents agree with the policy either. In Vermont, some district leaders faced challenges setting cellphone policies because parents believe their children are safer when they have access to their phones. A recent survey by the National Parents Union shows very little parent support for locking up students’ cellphones in secure pouches or containers during school days.

District leaders are increasingly seeking creative solutions to address student cellphone issues.

• Portland Public Schools, Oregon: The school board developed a guideline that allows students to use cellphones before and after school and during the lunch hour. Teachers are responsible for creating specific policies and instructions on cellphone use. Most large school districts in Oregon and Southwest Washington similarly leave phone policy decisions up to individual schools or teachers.
• Gorham School District, Maine: The district adopted a “teacher’s choice” cellphone policy. The superintendent explained, “We were looking for a way to make an impact on cellphone use while still giving students some autonomy. We knew it would be impossible to ban phones from the campus entirely and enforce such a policy.”
• DeKalb County Public Schools, Georgia: The DeKalb County School Board voted to spend $400,000 on a smartphone pouch pilot program. This program allows students to lock their phones while keeping them in their possession. Students must turn off their phones before placing them in the pouches. The pilot program will be implemented in five middle and five high schools across the county, affecting about 13,000 students.

As schools continue to grapple with the challenges posed by student cellphone use, the landscape of cellphone policies in education is evolving. While some districts enforce comprehensive restrictions, others opt for more flexible, teacher-driven policies. As these policies are implemented and evaluated, the ongoing dialogue will be crucial in shaping effective strategies for managing cellphone use in schools.