What’s the story?
Vermont, Ohio, North Carolina, and Oregon have all enacted statewide bans on cellphone use in K-12 schools since June 27.
- Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed H480 into law on June 27, directing the Secretary of Education to collaborate with the Vermont School Boards Association, the Vermont Independent School Association, and the Vermont Coalition for Phone and Social Media Free Schools to develop a policy prohibiting the use of cellphones in K-12 Schools. The policy, which must include exceptions for students with individualized healthcare or education plans and allow for administrator discretion, must be completed by January 1, 2026, to take effect during the 2026–2027 school year. H480 also prohibits schools from requiring students to use social media unless approved by the school district for recorded communication.
- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed the state budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 into law on June 30, which included the cellphone ban. It amended existing state law that required school boards to limit cellphone use in the K-12 classroom; the bill requires school boards to adopt policies by Jan. 1, 2026, that prohibit cellphone use. It included exceptions for students with individualized education plans and those monitoring their health on a wireless device.
- North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (D) signed H959 into law on July 1 to require school districts to adopt policies prohibiting cellphone use in K-12 schools. The policies must include exceptions for individualized education plans, curricular activities authorized by a teacher, and student health care management. The bill also requires instruction on social media and mental health to be included in elementary, middle, and high school curricula. School districts are required to restrict student access to social media and other content on an internet device while at school.
- Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) issued an executive order on July 2, requiring school districts to adopt a policy prohibiting cellphone use in K-12 classrooms by October 31, 2025, to take effect by January 1, 2026. The policies must include exceptions for students with individualized health or education plans.
What’s the background?
25 states have enacted cellphone bans or limits in K-12 schools, and at least 17 states have adopted cellphone bans or limits so far in 2025. Three states require all school district boards to adopt a policy on cellphones, but do not specify requirements. Four other states have policies encouraging school districts to establish restrictions on cellphone use in the classroom. Click here for more information about state policies.
Legislation banning or limiting cellphone use differs in each state, though most require local school boards to adopt and enforce policies to implement the ban or limit. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 76% of schools said they banned the non-academic use of cell phones or smartphones during school hours during the 2021-22 school year, down from 91% in 2010. In many high schools, administrators allowed cell phone use at designated times during the school day, such as lunch.
Statewide cellphone bans or limits have occurred in four states with Democratic trifectas, five states with divided governments, and 16 states with Republican trifectas.
Ballotpedia’s school board authority research
Statewide cellphone policies, depending on the details, can limit the discretion and authority of local school boards or require school boards to make policies. Earlier this year, Ballotpedia examined the rules governing school board authority and responsibilities in all 50 states. The research includes information on the authority of and constraints on school board policy-making power concerning the following specific topics:
- Curriculum requirements
- Curriculum restrictions
- Book bans and restrictions
- Parental notification policies
- Discipline
- School board elections
- Public school choice and open enrollment
- Charter schools
- Cellphone bans
Click here for more on our school board authority research, including information specific to your state.
Additional reading