Multiple US School Districts Implement Cellphone Bans in Classrooms

Several U.S. school districts have implemented or are preparing to enforce new policies banning or severely restricting student cellphone use during school hours, following state legislation. In El Paso Independent School District, students must keep phones and other wireless devices turned off and stored away, with exceptions only for documented health needs or emergencies. Kentucky passed House Bill 208 mandating local districts to develop their own policies to keep phones out of classrooms, with allowances for health-related uses and emergencies; districts like JCPS require phones to stay off and out of sight during the entire school day. Similarly, Iowa's new regulations prohibit students from having phones on their person from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., allowing exceptions for emergency use and health-related reasons. Anchorage School District enacted a policy banning cellphone use during class, permitting use only during passing periods and lunch, citing concerns over distraction and the availability of school-issued laptops. These measures are part of broader efforts to reduce distractions, improve student focus, and comply with new state laws regulating technology use in schools.