School cell phone policies are gaining traction. As of early 2025, eight states have enacted legislation, with many others considering similar measures that limit or ban student cell phone use during school hours.

These policies, which are garnering bipartisan support, aim to curb the negative impacts of teens’ near-constant cell phone use.

As with any significant change initiative, however, careful planning and thoughtful collaboration are needed to ensure the desired outcomes are achieved. This article explores:

• What’s driving the implementation of these policies
• New challenges that arise when schools limit student access to personal devices
• A 10-step framework to guide administrators through effective policy implementation

A Not-So-Brief History of School Cell Phone Policies

For those tasked with teaching our young people, cell phone policies are a welcome solution to a problem they’ve struggled with for years. 

Shortly after the introduction of the iPhone in 2007, cell phones became regular sightings in schools. By 2009, nearly all public schools (91%) had bans in place. But by 2015, as smartphone ownership became widespread, the percentage of schools with cell phone bans had dropped to 67%. The reasons for this decline included difficulties enforcing restrictions amid growing technology use, as well as concerns about limiting internet accessibility for students with mobile-only access.

Cell phone policies were once again on the rise when the Covid pandemic struck in 2020. But these policies were backburnered as schools scrambled to support remote learning. When students returned to school, teachers say they were more dependent on—and distracted by—technology than ever. For many students, their devices had been their sole connection to the outside world for months, so this wasn’t all that surprising.

In the years since Covid, frustrated teachers began pushing school administrators to revisit the implementation of cell phone policies, but they often met resistance. Left to their own devices (forgive the painfully obvious pun), some, like Cassandra Dorn who teaches English at Red Bank High School in New Jersey, devised creative “lock it and leave it” policies in their individual classrooms. But lacking building-wide implementation and enforcement, the effectiveness of these ad-hoc policies has been limited. 

Why Restrictions on Cell Phone Use Are Being Implemented Now

Fast forward to today, and the problem has finally grown to a point where it seems nearly all—from administrators and teachers to legislators and families—agree that at least some limitations on cell phone use are needed. More than three-quarters of public schools have a policy that prohibits class-time cell phone use, with an even higher percentage of similar policies in place at elementary schools (86%). While the motivations for implementing school cell phone policies may vary slightly depending upon who you ask, the most commonly cited reasons include:

Creating Focused Learning Environments

By high school, more than nine in 10 students (91%) have their own mobile phone, and many admit they’re online “almost constantly.” This constant stream of notifications, messages, and social media updates fragments student attention and creates an ongoing challenge for teachers. Studies show that even the mere presence of phones in the classroom can reduce cognitive capacity and academic performance, regardless of whether they’re being actively used.

Protecting Student Mental Health

The mental health implications of unrestricted cell phone use are significant and well-documented. The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 advisory highlighted that adolescents who spend more than three hours each day on social media face double the risk of poor mental health outcomes. Excessive screen time and social media exposure have also been linked to increased anxiety, depression, and sleep deprivation. By limiting cell phone access during the day, schools aim to reduce negative mental health impacts and create a healthier and more balanced environment for learning.

Preventing Cyberbullying

Adolescents who are cyberbullied are at four times greater risk for suicidality, and they’re three times as likely to engage in delinquent behavior. Given the risks and negative implications, cyberbullying prevention measures are critical in our schools. Yet, when phone access is unrestricted during the school day, minor conflicts and miscommunications can escalate and spread rapidly through group chats, messaging apps, and social media. By restricting phone access during school hours, potential cyberbullying situations have a chance to sort themselves out before they spiral out of control.

School Cell Phone Policies Create New Challenges, Too

While cell phone restrictions aim to improve student learning and wellbeing, they also introduce logistical and social complexities. Administrators must carefully consider how these policies impact family communications, emergency preparedness, and digital equity. 

Family & Emergency Communications

For many parents, providing their child with a phone is about more than convenience—it’s about safety and staying connected. Parents want to be able to reach their child in an emergency, know their location, and be just a text or phone call away if needed. In an era of instant communication, limiting phone access can feel disruptive, or even obstructive, to families who rely on this daily connection.

Concerns about school safety can also fuel family pushback against phone restrictions. In crisis situations such as lockdowns or evacuations, students and families want the assurance that they can reach each other quickly. In theory, emergency protocols and communication systems should be able to replace the need for personal devices, but concerns remain about how effective these systems are in actual practice. 

To navigate these concerns, schools should consider implementing:

• Alternative and thoroughly tested communication methods for both everyday check-ins and emergencies
• Clear protocols for emergency situations to reassure families about student safety
• Transparent communication with families about how students will stay connected in critical moments

Digital Equity

Technology is pervasive in today’s classrooms. Students use Chromebooks, laptops, and other devices for in-class lessons, assignments, and homework. Restricting personal device use during class may assume that every student has access to a school-issued device, but this isn’t always the case.

While recent research by the National Center for Education Statistics shows that 1:1 device and computing programs exist in 88% of public schools across the US, the remaining 12% of lower-income districts may not have the funding to support such programs, leaving some students without reliable access to digital learning tools. While higher-income students are more likely to own personal smartphones, some lower-income students rely on their phones and mobile connectivity as their primary means of accessing educational resources—both at school and at home.

In these situations, restricting cell phone use without providing adequate alternatives may inadvertently widen existing equity gaps, disproportionately affecting students in underfunded schools. To ensure digital equity, schools should consider:

• Expanding device lending programs to ensure all students have access to necessary technology
• Providing additional school resources for students who lack internet access at home
• Crafting flexible policies that recognize all students’ needs while maintaining a focused learning environment

A 10-Step Framework to Guide Cell Phone Policy Implementation

Like any significant change initiative, the success of a cell phone policy can be heavily influenced by careful planning and thoughtful execution. Borrowing from proven change management strategies, here’s a step-by-step framework districts can follow to set themselves up to experience the best outcomes.

1. Create a Sense of Urgency
   • Clearly define why a cell phone policy is necessary
   • Use data (e.g., academic performance, behavioral issues, social-emotional impacts) to highlight the problem
   • Communicate the risks of inaction (continued classroom disruptions, digital addiction, cyberbullying and its related impacts)
     
2. Build a Coalition of Support
   • Engage administrators, teachers, counselors, and families in the discussion
   • Ensure student voice is represented to understand student perspectives
   • Identify key champions who can advocate for the change
     
3. Develop a Clear Policy & Vision
   • Define what the policy entails (e.g., when and where phones are allowed, consequences for violations)
   • Align the policy with district values, strategic plans, and educational goals
   • Create a positive, student-centered vision, such as Phone-Free, Focused & On Fire!
     
4. Communicate the Policy Effectively
   • Use multiple channels: staff meetings, parent newsletters, student assemblies, social media
   • Be consistent and transparent—address concerns head-on
   • Frame the change as beneficial to learning and student well-being rather than punitive
     
5. Address Resistance & Build Desire for Change
   • Acknowledge concerns from students, families, and staff
   • Offer compromises where possible (e.g., phone-free zones instead of an outright ban)
   • Use testimonials and case studies from other schools that have successfully implemented similar policies
     
6. Provide Training & Clear Expectations
   • Train teachers on how to enforce the policy consistently
   • Offer classroom management strategies to minimize power struggles
   • Educate students and families on why the policy benefits them
     
7. Implement & Enforce the Policy Consistently
   • Roll out the policy in phases if necessary (e.g., pilot program in some grades before full implementation)
   • Make sure all staff enforce it uniformly to avoid confusion
   • Provide structured responses for handling violations fairly
     
8. Leverage Technology Wisely 
   • Help teachers ensure focused, productive classrooms with classroom management software and advanced web filtering
   • Implement a monitoring solution to strengthen student wellness support and monitor students’ wellness levels
   • Strengthen physical school safety with technologies like digital hall passes and visitor management solutions
     
9. Monitor, Gather Feedback & Adjust
   • Conduct surveys or forums with teachers, students, and families to assess how it’s working
   • Track key metrics (e.g., classroom disruptions, disciplinary actions)
   • Be willing to refine the policy based on feedback
     
10. Sustain & Reinforce the Change
    • Celebrate all wins and improvements, no matter how small, to maintain positive momentum
    • Incorporate the policy into student handbooks, PD, and school culture
    • Keep leadership engaged in modeling and reinforcing expectations

Creating Learning Environments Where Students Feel Safe, Secure & Ready to Learn

To successfully implement school cell phone policies—or undertake any change for that matter—those that engage their communities, build consensus, and strike a balanced approach that respects everyone’s perspectives will have the best outcomes. With thoughtful planning, clear communication, and reliable systems in place, school districts can create learning environments where technology enhances rather than inhibits learning.

To learn how Securly helps districts like yours keep students safe, secure, and ready to learn, visit www.securly.com.