Thirty-eight US states and Washington DC now restrict student phone use in schools as of February 2026, with states dividing into two camps: those implementing bell-to-bell bans that prohibit phones throughout the entire school day, and those restricting use only during instructional time whilst allowing access during lunch and breaks.
Bell-to-Bell States: No Phones All Day
New York became the largest state to mandate bell-to-bell restrictions in May 2025, covering 2.5 million K-12 students with the policy taking effect for the 2025-2026 school year.
Oregon’s Governor Tina Kotek issued an executive order in July 2025 requiring every district to adopt bell-to-bell bans by January 1, 2026, with several districts reporting the mandate has gone better than expected.
New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation in January 2026 establishing phone-free schools statewide, with 86 districts awarded grants under a $3 million Phone-Free Schools Grant Programme to purchase storage equipment.
California passed the Phone-Free Schools Act in September 2024, requiring every school district, charter school, and county office of education to develop policies limiting smartphones during school hours, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026.
South Carolina included a proviso in its 2024-2025 state budget requiring schools to ban student phone access during the day to receive state funding.
Massachusetts is advancing legislation that goes further than most states by adding smartphones, tablets, and Bluetooth devices to its list of banned electronics. Pennsylvania is also considering bell-to-bell restrictions.
Instructional-Time States: Phones Allowed During Breaks
Kansas, Iowa, North Carolina, and Wisconsin passed instructional-time bans in 2025, allowing students to use phones during lunch, between classes, and during breaks whilst prohibiting use during teaching time.
Michigan legislators passed a similar bill in January 2026 applying to class time only, with the ban requiring implementation for the upcoming school year if Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs it.
This approach makes enforcement simpler because teachers only need to monitor phones during their classes rather than throughout the day, but critics argue it provides limited benefits when students can still scroll social media during lunch and breaks.
How Storage Works
Bell-to-bell states require phones turned off and stored away from entry until final bell. Schools choose storage methods including Yondr pouches or similar locked pouches that students carry, centralised collection systems where phones are deposited at school entry, or designated lockers. New York allocated $13.5 million for schools needing storage solutions, whilst New Jersey provided $3 million in grants for equipment and training.
Los Angeles Unified School District, which implemented its ban in February 2026, requires phones turned off and stored away with no silent or vibrate mode allowed, prohibiting use during lunch and breaks but allowing phones on campus before and after school hours.
Parents can still reach children through office-based communication where they call the school rather than texting students directly. Students can use basic phones without internet capability, and devices provided by schools for educational purposes remain allowed.
Why the Momentum
Education experts say phone bans accelerated after the pandemic reshaped how students use technology. Kara Stern, director of education and engagement for SchoolStatus, said smartphones shifted from connection tools during remote learning to sources of isolation once students returned to classrooms. A 2025 JAMA Pediatrics study reported teens aged 13-18 spend an average of 90 minutes on phones during school, though little research exists on what they’re actually doing during that time.
Student and Parent Support
A Brookings Institution survey from October 2025 found 76% of teens support some form of restrictions during school, up from 60% in 2024-2025. Currently 55% of schools have bell-to-bell bans, 43% restrict use only during class, and just 2% have no rules at all. Pew Research reported adult support rose from 68% in autumn 2024 to 74% in summer 2025, with 93% of adults in the Brookings survey preferring either bell-to-bell bans or no phones during classes.
Most teachers enforce policies consistently, giving penalties like points off assignments or confiscating phones temporarily. State Representative Mark Tisdel, who sponsored Michigan’s bill, said statewide standards provide cover for districts worried about parental pushback, noting that every district has some phone policy but implementation and enforcement vary without state requirements.
Evidence on Benefits
Research shows mixed results. Some studies found test scores improved in the second year after an initial adjustment period, suggesting schools and students need time to adapt. An Australian study found no significant differences in problematic phone use, school belonging, or academic engagement between students with bans and those with free access.
Schools report fewer behavioural problems, reduced bullying, and improved classroom engagement. Michigan Representative Jordan Weiss said fights that started on Snapchat and turned into physical altercations during school could be mitigated by phone bans, which would also help with phones’ addictive nature. Teachers describe students playing at break time and engaging more with peers rather than scrolling devices.
Parent Concerns
Some parents worry about losing direct communication during emergencies like active shooter events. Experts caution that phones during such events can endanger students by drawing attention to their location and overloading networks, and whilst tragic events occur, they remain statistically rarer than adolescent suicide attempts which have increased sharply in the smartphone era.
An EdChoice poll from 2024 found more than one-third of parents believed children should have phones during class, though this represents a minority view compared to recent surveys showing higher support for restrictions.
What Parents Should Know
If you’re in a state with enacted or pending bell-to-bell bans, watch for information about your school’s storage system, violation policies, and emergency contact procedures. Some schools phase in bans by grade level, starting with younger students first.
For families in states without restrictions, watch whether your local district implements policies independently. Many school boards voted to limit or ban phones before their states made it a requirement.
What to Watch
Michigan’s bill awaits Governor Whitmer’s signature for 2026-2027 implementation. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are advancing bell-to-bell restrictions through legislatures. California’s law takes effect July 1, 2026, so watch for district policy announcements in spring.
Virginia’s one-hour daily limit for under-16s is being challenged by NetChoice on free speech grounds. The outcome could determine whether time-based limits survive legal scrutiny better than location-based school bans.
Sources:
- Stateline, “As school cellphone bans gain in popularity, lawmakers say it’s time to go bell-to-bell,” February 3, 2026
- Brookings Institution, “Survey: Parents and teens support school cellphone bans,” January 2026
- Paragon Institute, “Banning Smartphones in Schools: Review of the Literature Shows Positive Impact,” January 5, 2026
- Campus Safety Magazine, “Which States Have Banned Cell Phones in Schools?” January 20, 2026
- New York Governor’s Office, “Governor Hochul Announces New York to Become Largest State With Statewide Bell-to-Bell Restrictions,” May 2025
- New Jersey Governor’s Office, “Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Establishing Phone-Free Schools,” January 8, 2026
