Overview

• With bipartisan support, 17 states and the District of Columbia begin new restrictions this year, bringing to 35 the states that now limit student phone use in schools since Florida’s first law in 2023.
• Policies differ widely, with 18 states and D.C. imposing bell‑to‑bell bans, Georgia and Florida applying all‑day bans only in K‑8, seven states limiting phones during class time, and others requiring districts to set their own rules.
• Students and teachers report fewer distractions and more interaction, including a Kentucky senior noting more one‑on‑one attention and an Alabama teacher’s viral account of full‑class engagement on day one.
• Enforcement ranges from magnetic lock pouches and dedicated lockers to teacher collection and stepped‑up discipline, with local resources determining how consistently schools can restrict access.
• Parents continue to press for reliable safety communication and scheduling access, and researchers caution that links to academic gains or mental‑health improvements remain unproven pending longer‑term data.