Cellphones Out, Focus In: States Crack Down on Classroom Distractions

Across the United States, a growing movement is aiming to silence the constant buzz and illuminate a new era of focused learning: removing cellphones from classrooms. This push comes from both state legislatures and local school boards, all concerned about the impact of cellphone use on student achievement and classroom engagement. Florida led the charge in 2023, becoming the first state to enact a statewide ban on cellphone use during class time. The law, which took effect in July 2023, prohibits student cellphone use during instructional time in public schools (grades K-12) and requires schools to block social media access on school Wi-Fi. Some districts, like Orange County, have implemented stricter rules banning phones entirely during the school day.& Since Florida’s law was passed, additional states such as Indiana and Ohio have followed suit with similar legislation, placing restrictions on in-class cellphone use and empowering local districts to implement stricter policies. As of July 23, 2024, several states have enacted legislation or policies restricting cellphone use in classrooms. While Florida has the strictest policy, implementing a statewide ban on cellphone use during class time, Indiana recently passed a law with a similar ban that will start in the upcoming school...