On June 29, 2007, the iPhone made its debut, ushering in the era of smartphones that almost all K–12 students are now a part of.
However, there is a chance that pupils’ access to electronics throughout the school day will be severely limited. With the argument clearly in favor of more stringent regulations, an increasing number of legislators and school authorities are implementing new cellphone laws. They contend that limiting access will improve pupils’ academic and emotional health.
According to an Education Week count, school districts are required by at least 24 states and the District of Columbia to prohibit or limit students’ use of smartphones in class. Other states are either encouraging or advising local districts to implement their own restrictions or prohibitions.
Education Week is monitoring state-level laws and regulations that seek to restrict students’ access to smartphones throughout the school day as the discussion surrounding these devices in classrooms continues.
Policies & Laws Regarding Cellphones
To see what’s going on at the state level, follow this tracker.
A summary of current state policies regarding cellphones
| Incentives Policy | Policy Recommended | Policy Required | Statewide Restriction |
|---|
| Delaware | Alaska | Alabama | Florida |
| Pennsylvania | Connecticut | Arizona | Louisiana |
| Kansas | Arkansas | South Carolina |
| North Carolina | California | Utah |
| Oregon | D.C. (District of Columbia) | |
| South Dakota | Georgia | |
| Washington | Idaho | |
| | Indiana | |
| | Iowa | |
| | Kentucky | |
| | Minnesota | |
| | Nebraska | |
| | Nevada | |
| | New Mexico | |
| | New York | |
| | North Dakota | |
| | Ohio | |
| | Oklahoma | |
| | Tennessee | |
| | Virginia | |
| | West Virginia | |
Note:
Some states have laws requiring schools to develop general cellphone policies, but do not mandate restriction or bans.
State policy details
| State | Policy Type | Summary | Signed Date | Effective Date |
|---|
| Alabama | Policy required | Requires local boards to adopt policies restricting student cellphone use by July 1, 2025, with IEP/504 exemptions and annual compliance surveys. | 5/14/2025 | 5/14/2025 |
| Alaska | Policy recommended | Board urged restrictions during instructional time; 2025 law requires districts to regulate cellphone use, with default ban if no policy. | 10/11/2024 | 10/11/2024 |
| Arizona | Policy required | Schools must limit wireless device use during the day, with exceptions for education, emergencies, or medical needs. | 4/14/2025 | n/a |
| Arkansas | Policy required | “Bell to Bell, No Cell Act” mandates policy limiting cellphone use with exemptions and submission to state education division. | 2/20/2025 | 2/20/2025 |
| California | Policy required | “Phone-Free Schools Act” requires policy restricting use by July 1, 2026, with stakeholder input and periodic updates. | 9/23/2024 | 7/1/2026 |
| Connecticut | Policy recommended | State board approved voluntary guidelines encouraging age-appropriate cellphone limits in schools. | 8/21/2024 | 8/21/2024 |
| Delaware | Incentivizes policy | $250K pilot program funds phone storage solutions; encourages schools to limit use. | n/a | 6/30/2024 |
| District of Columbia | Policy required | Requires phones off and stored during the day with limited exceptions. | n/a | 8/25/2025 |
| Florida | Statewide restriction | Restricts cellphone use during instructional time; May 2025 update extends ban for K-8. | 5/9/2023 | 7/1/2023 |
| Georgia | Policy required | K–8 schools must prohibit device access during the day by July 1, 2026, with exemptions. | 5/9/2025 | n/a |
| Idaho | Policy required | Policies must make usage as limited as possible with exemptions; executive order offered incentive. | 3/13/2025 | 7/1/2025 |
| Indiana | Policy required | Devices banned during instructional time with defined exceptions. | 3/11/2024 | 7/1/2024 |
| Iowa | Policy required | Districts must restrict device use during classroom time by 2025–26; includes communication and exemption procedures. | 4/30/2025 | 4/30/2025 |
| Kansas | Policy recommended | State board accepted task force recommendation for bell-to-bell bans. | n/a | 12/10/2024 |
| Kentucky | Policy required | Requires restrictions during instructional time; IEP/504 and emergency exemptions. | 3/26/2025 | 6/26/2025 |
| Louisiana | Statewide restriction | Students must turn off and store devices during instructional day. | 5/28/2024 | 5/28/2024 |
| Minnesota | Policy required | Requires districts to create cellphone policies by March 15, 2025, with statewide best practices. | 5/17/2024 | 5/18/2024 |
| Nebraska | Policy required | School boards must prohibit cellphone use on school property or events, with defined exemptions. | 5/20/2025 | 5/20/2025 |
| Nevada | Policy required | Districts must prescribe limits on cellphone use during instructional time by 2026–27. | 5/28/2025 | 5/28/2025 |
| New Mexico | Policy required | Policies must prohibit wireless device use during instructional hours with exemptions. | 4/10/2025 | 4/10/2025 |
| New York | Policy required | Budget mandates distraction-free policy by 2025–26; includes funding and exemptions. | 5/9/2025 | n/a |
| North Carolina | Policy recommended | Advisory group urges full-day bans and digital literacy education. | n/a | 6/3/2025 |
| North Dakota | Policy required | Requires policies banning use during school day, with lockable storage and impact tracking. | 4/25/2025 | 8/1/2025 |
| Ohio | Policy required | Policies must limit cellphone use; includes model policy and exemptions. | 5/19/2024 | 7/1/2024 |
| Oklahoma | Policy required | Bell-to-bell ban required in 2025–26; becomes optional thereafter. | 5/5/2025 | 7/1/2025 |
| Oregon | Policy recommended | Department issued guidance encouraging updated cellphone use policies. | n/a | 10/30/2024 |
| Pennsylvania | Incentivizes policy | Grants allow funding for storage bags if schools adopt official ban policies. | 7/11/2024 | n/a |
| South Carolina | Statewide restriction | Budget ties aid to adopting ban policies with specific requirements and exemptions. | 7/3/2024 | 1/1/2025 |
| South Dakota | Policy recommended | Non-binding resolution encourages restrictions and staff training. | n/a | 2/11/2025 |
| Tennessee | Policy required | Mandates bell-to-bell bans during instructional time; requires emergency procedures. | 3/28/2025 | 7/1/2025 |
| Utah | Statewide restriction | Bans cellphone use during class time; requires district policies with defined exemptions. | 3/25/2025 | 7/1/2025 |
| Virginia | Policy required | Requires age-appropriate, bell-to-bell restriction policies with exemptions. | 4/2/2025 | 7/1/2025 |
| Washington | Policy recommended | Superintendent encouraged policy development; guidance provided. | 8/28/2024 | 8/28/2024 |
| West Virginia | Policy required | Requires policy banning or storing phones during the school day with parent communication protocols. |
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