Numerous schools across the United States have implemented new phone policies that restrict or completely ban phones for the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

A surge of education leaders and policymakers are adopting new cellphone policies within their states. With support from parents, the discussion turned decidedly in favor of tighter restrictions. Policymakers and education board members argue strict restrictions will benefit students’ mental health and learning. As of June 28th, at least 15 states have placed restrictions on their high school students. The policy varies from incentivized, statewide restriction, to recommended or required policy.

Incentivized Policy

In states like Arkansas, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, legislatures have dedicated funding to encourage schools to enforce new phone policies. These programs allocate funds to schools to purchase storage pouches or lockable smartphone bags for students’ phones during school hours. The school districts that do not need the funding are not required to implement phone policies. 

Recommended policy

States like Alabama, Connecticut, Oklahoma, and Washington have implemented a recommended phone policy. Their Board of Education has decided that action is needed but should not forced. All school districts are heavily encouraged to place restrictions but are not required. 

Required Policy

However, in states like California, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Virginia, the Boards of Education decided action is needed and required. All states are forced to implement some policy in their schools, but it is up to the individual districts what that looks like. 

Statewide Restrictions

Some states like Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina have gone as far as setting statewide restrictions in their schools. To most districts that implies that no phones are allowed on school grounds. Some schools require their students to turn in their phones at the beginning of the day or just keep them in their lockers.