As K-12 students return to the classroom for the new academic year, some will need to significantly adjust to new laws that ban or restrict the use of cell phones in schools.
Nine states have enacted laws or policies regarding student cell phone usage in K-12 classrooms, according to a new report from Ballotpedia. At a more local level, many school boards and districts have also voted to limit or ban cell phones in the classroom. In June, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) School Board voted to ban cell phones and social media during the school day.
As part of LAUSD’s policy, which will go into effect as early as January 2025, schools will be able to decide how to implement the phone ban, such as requiring that phones be placed in a locker or an individual locked pouch during the day.
According to a 2023 report from Common Sense Media, half of kids ages 11 to 17 receive at least 237 notifications on their phones on a typical day — 25% of which are received during the school day. In the past year or so, dozens of school districts have sued the parent companies of Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, alleging their apps cause classroom disciplinary problems and mental health issues and divert resources from education.
RELATED: Seattle Public Schools Sue Big Tech, Allege Social Media Harms Student Mental Health
Aside from the more obvious concern of cell phones being a significant distraction from learning, in June, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory calling on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms regarding their effects on young people. The advisory said social media may cause body image issues, affect eating behaviors and sleep quality, and lead to social comparison and low self-esteem. According to 2022 data from the Pew Research Center, more than a third of teens ages 13 to 17 say they use social media “almost constantly” — including during the school day.
States with Laws that Ban or Restrict Cell Phones in Schools
So, which states have enacted actual legislation regarding cell phones in schools? As of Aug. 23, 2024, those states are:
- Florida
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- South Carolina
The first state to use the legislative process to ban cell phones in classrooms was Florida. In May 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 379. Both chambers of the legislature approved the bill unanimously.
“A student may possess a wireless communications device while the student is on school property or in attendance at a school function; however, a student may not use a wireless communications device during instructional time, except when expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes,” the bill states. “A teacher shall designate an area for wireless communications devices during instructional time. Each district school board shall adopt rules governing the use of a wireless communications device by a student while the student is on school property or in attendance at a school function.”
In addition to banning cell phones in classrooms, HB 379 also requires schools to block access to social media platforms on school computers and Wi-Fi networks, except for educational purposes and to teach students in grades 6-12 about the dangers of social media.
In March 2024, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed Senate Bill 185 which bans cell phones and other portable devices, including laptops and tablets, during class. The Indiana House approved the bill 83-8 and the Senate approved it 49-0.
“Each school corporation and charter school shall adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that: (1) except as provided in subdivisions (2) and (3) and subsection (d), prohibits a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time; (2) authorizes a teacher to allow a student to use a wireless communication device for educational purposes during instructional time; and (3) permits a student to use a wireless communication device in the event of an emergency or to manage the student’s health care,” the bill reads.
In May 2024, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed Senate Bill 207 which bans cell phones throughout the instructional day. The bill went into effect this school year.
“…no student shall possess, on his person, an electronic telecommunication device throughout the instructional day,” the bill says. “If a student brings an electronic telecommunication device in any public elementary or secondary school building or on the grounds thereof during an instructional day, the electronic device shall either be turned off and properly stowed away for the duration of the instructional day or prohibited from being turned on and used during the instructional day.”
Most recently, in July 2024, South Carolina lawmakers included a proviso in the 2024-2025 state budget that requires schools to ban students from using cell phones during the day to receive funding.
“To receive state funds allocated for State Aid to Classrooms, a school district shall implement a policy adopted by the State Board of Education that prohibits access to personal electronic communication devices by students during the school day,” the provision says. “For purposes of this provision, a personal electronic communication device is considered to be a device not authorized for classroom use by a student, utilized to access the Internet, Wi-Fi, or cellular telephone signals.”
Also this July, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33 to “help bring cell phone-free education to Virginia schools.”
“Establish a detailed definition of ‘cell phone-free education’ which incorporates feedback from parents, students, teachers, and other stakeholders,” the order says. “The definition should address the age-appropriateness of all actions including the elimination or severe restriction of the use of cell phones and smart phones during instructional time, as well as input on age-appropriate restrictions on other personal electronic communication devices, such as smart watches, tablets, and computers connected to the internet during instructional time other than school authorized uses.”
California Likely to Limit Cell Phone Usage Across State in 2026
California is also expected to be added to the above list soon. On Aug. 28, the Phones-Free Schools Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Assemblyman Josh Hoover, passed through the legislature, Yahoo reports. It requires all public schools to come up with a policy by July 1, 2026, that restricts or prohibits smartphones during the school day.
The proposed legislation is expected to be signed by Governor Gavin Newson. In June, Newsom announced he wants to restrict students’ cell phone usage. Newsom said he plans to build on a law he signed in 2019 that authorized school districts to limit or ban the use of smartphones by students while at school or under the supervision of a school employee.
“As the Surgeon General affirmed, social media is harming the mental health of our youth,” he wrote in a statement. “I look forward to working with the Legislature to restrict the use of smartphones during the school day. When children and teens are in school, they should be focused on their studies — not their screens.”
Following Newsom’s June announcement, the California School Boards Association said it believes any regulations over student cell phone usage should be left up to individual school districts.
“We support legislation which empowers school leaders to make policy decisions at a local level that reflect their community’s concerns and what’s necessary to support their students,” said spokesperson Troy Flint.
Ohio Legislation Limits Cell Phone Usage
While not a statewide ban, Ohio enacted a law limiting cell phone usage in classrooms. In May 2024, Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 250 which requires districts to establish policies on cell phone use in schools.
“…each school district board of education shall adopt a policy governing the use of cellular telephones by students during school hours,” the bill says. “The policy shall do all of the following: (1) Emphasize that student cellular telephone use be as limited as possible during school hours; (2) Reduce cellular telephone-related distractions in classroom settings…”
Both the Ohio House and the Senate unanimously approved the bill.
Alabama, Connecticut Encourage Districts to Limit Student Cell Phone Use
Other states are strongly encouraging schools to implement policies, although it is at their discretion. In Feb. 2024, the Alabama State Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution calling on districts to implement policies that limit the use of cell phones on school property.
“National studies show that using cellular telephones or other electronic communication devices in classrooms can disrupt and distract from the learning environment, negatively impact test scores, and affect long-term learning retention,” the board said of its decision.
Just this month, the Connecticut State Board of Education also unanimously voted to adopt a policy encouraging districts to limit student access to cell phones during the school day.
“Given the risks and negative impact on learning and mental health, local and regional boards of education, in collaboration with school leaders, educators, families and students, should develop and enact a districtwide Personal Technology Use in Schools policy inclusive of cell phones and current and emerging technologies,” the board wrote in a statement.
Governor Ned Lamont and the board released a report that offers policy guidance for school districts to consider recommending complete removal of cell phones from elementary and middle schools.
Gov. Tim Walz Requires Minnesota Schools to Implement Cell Phone Use Policies
Other states have required or plan to require that schools put policies in place to minimize cell phone use in the classroom.
By March 15, 2025, Minnesota school districts and charter schools will be required to have policies in place regarding cell phone use after Governor Tim Walz signed Senate File 3567 in May 2024. The policies must “minimize the impact of cell phones on student behavior, mental health, and academic attainment.”
3 States Enact Pilot/Grant Programs to Limit Cell Phone Usage in Schools
Last month, three states announced they were piloting programs to restrict cell phones in the classroom. Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Arkansas approved funding in 2024 to provide some districts with pouches for storing cell phones during classroom instruction.
On July 1, Delaware Governor John Carney signed a $168 million supplemental spending bill that allocated $250,000 for a state Department of Education pilot program for cell phone pouches. Under the pilot program, students would place their phones on locked pouches and would not have access to them until the end of the school day. Lawmakers suggested five to eight schools be chosen to participate in the pilot. The state DoE has been charged with implementing the pilot and collecting and evaluating data.
On July 2, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders also announced a pilot grant program that will provide pouches for students to store their cell phones. She told Fox News that 75% of the state’s districts plan to join the initiative.
RELATED: Georgia School District Tries to Reduce Cell Phone Use on Campus
“Teen math, reading, and science scores have dropped in the United States and other developed nations since 2012, while school alienation has risen across the board,” she said. “Arkansas’ phone-free schools’ program isn’t about taking anything away — it’s about giving kids the freedom to learn without distractions.
On July 11, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed a bill allotting $100 million to schools for a grant program to limit cell phone usage during the day. Schools can use the grants to purchase pouches.
Some districts are also taking it upon themselves to implement pilot programs. In July, the DeKalb County School Board in Georgia unanimously approved a pilot program that takes two different approaches. One strategy involves students turning off their phones and placing them in a locked pouch that they carry with them during the school day. At the end of the day, they would touch the pouch to a magnet that would unlock it. The pouch strategy is being implemented at Salem, Henderson, Sequoyah, Lithonia, and Tucker middle schools and Lakeside, Cross Keys, Lithonia, Tucker, and Martin Luther King, Jr. high schools.
The second approach is cell phone lockers. That pilot will be implemented at Miller Grove, Druid Hills, and Chapel Hill middle schools.
Other States Considering Cell Phone Bans, Restrictions
It is extremely likely the list of states with cell phone bans or limitations will continue to grow. On Aug. 22, the Arizona Department of Education held a news conference to make the case for a state-wide cell phone ban, Fox reports.
During the news conference, Tom Horne, state superintendent of public instruction, said cell phones have “become the heroin of our time … No teacher should be expected to have to teach a class where the students are scrolling on their cell phones.”
Cell Phone Bans in School: Supporters and Proponents Offer Strong Arguments
Not surprisingly, all of these decisions have been met with mixed opinions. For instance, two LAUSD board members voted against the June motion, citing how difficult it would be for teachers and staff to enforce the ban. LAUSD is the second-largest school district in the country behind New York City Public Schools.
Many parents have also criticized the decision, noting they want to be able to communicate with their children during school hours, particularly in today’s threat landscape. In a recent survey from Prodigy, 63% of parent respondents said their main concern with school cell phone bans is difficulty communicating with their children during emergencies.
To address various concerns, some states and individual districts have come up with compromises or creative alternatives. In a last-minute amendment to California’s Phones-Free Schools Act, lawmakers added some exceptions, such as schools cannot prohibit students from using phones during emergencies. The proposed law does not include details on what constitutes an emergency, leaving it to schools to decide.
“We’re working under the assumption schools are going to be reasonable and responsive to legitimate parental concerns about being able to contact their kids in the aftermath of an emergency,” said Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), a co-author of the bill.
Dr. Willough Jenkins, a pediatric psychiatrist at Rady Children’s Hospital and UC San Diego, told Fox News that lawmakers and schools should also take into consideration students who may need a device for medical reasons.
“There’s a certain population of children that are neurodivergent or with autism spectrum diagnoses, and they may be using devices to help with communication,” she said, adding other students with medical conditions, such as diabetes, may need to monitor their blood glucose. “I think we have to consider all of these situations when we’re making rules.”
Do Teachers Support Cell Phone Bans in the Classroom?
While some LAUSD parents voiced opposition to the ban, the previously mentioned Prodigy survey found that 64% of parents across the U.S. support banning cell phones during the school day. The survey also found nearly three in four teachers support a ban on cell phones, although 46% said installing screen time restrictions during the school day is a better approach than banning them altogether.
On average, teachers surveyed said they discipline students for using their cell phones five times a week, and 46% said they have confiscated students’ phones. Teachers also largely agreed that a ban would improve students’ academic performance (81%), behavior and discipline (74%), and mental health (70%).
A similar survey from study.com found teachers in schools with lenient cell phone policies are 21% more likely to lose more than an hour of learning time each week to managing cell phone use.
LAUSD, San Mateo-Foster City Schools Report Cell Phone Ban Is Helping Student Achievement
One school within the LAUSD, East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy, already implemented pouches last year. However, they allow students to keep the locked pouches on them instead of surrendering their phones to a central storage area.
“Still having the phone on them helps to lower the anxiety,” said Principal Francine Avila. “It’s a part of their body almost, and if you take it from them, you take the social-emotional component that goes with it.”
Within a few weeks of implementing the pouches, Avila said students were increasingly getting to class on time and participating more. School staff also started offering activities and sports during lunch to keep students engaged.
In the spring of 2022, California’s San Mateo-Foster City School District purchased pouches for storing students’ cell phones. Before implementing the pouches at the district’s four middle schools, leaders held meetings with parents to reduce concerns about being unable to contact their children. Parents and guardians now call the school office when they need to reach their child.
SMFCSD Superintendent Diego Ochoa told NBC News that the pouches have been “an unquestioned success” and that students are paying more attention in class and talking to each other more outside of class.
Student Mental Health and Cell Phones
While many mental health experts support a ban or limitation on cell phones, they also urge schools to look at other causes of distractions and other concerns such as bullying on social media.
“Just because we removed the phone from the environment doesn’t mean these issues are going to go away,” Anthony Vaccaro, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Southern California, told NBC.
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Jenkins said she sees a lot of negative effects of phone usage among children and teens but that it’s “not black and white.”
“It’s quite a nuanced discussion because not all children struggle with phone use,” she said. “But for those who do, we certainly are seeing the impacts in our mental health clinics and within psychiatry.”
Whether or not state or district leaders decide to enact laws or policies that limit or ban student cell phone use, including students and parents in the decision-making process is always a good idea, and recognizing that meaningful improvements in student wellness won’t happen with just one policy change.
