Phone bans 2025: States and what it means for kids

Phones are out of class—now what? a mom’s guide to school phone bans

Credit: Canva/Motherly

Phone bans are spreading across U.S. schools in 2025–2026, reshaping student focus, social skills, and classroom habits

By Elizabeth Tenety Updated Sep. 25, 2025

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If your school just banned phones and your group chat is melting down, let’s hit pause.

Parents are often told phones are essential for safety. What we’re rarely told is what phones actually cost our kids: fractured attention, heightened anxiety, and delayed social development. And those trade-offs show up every day—not just in emergencies.

In a widely read essay in The Atlantic, education journalist and former teacher Gail Cornwall describes what really happens when students bring smartphones to school. They text through lessons. Avoid eye contact. Use Discord during debate club. Reach for dopamine pings instead of engaging with the moment. And most schools? They still build assignments around QR codes and ask kids to upload photos from their phones—undermining their own bans.

The U.S. is slowly catching on: as of the 2025–2026 school year, 20 states (including D.C.’s public schools and the Virgin Islands) have completely banned wireless communication devices for the entire instructional day, though exceptions exist for students with disabilities who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Another 17 states, like Maryland and Wyoming, have not implemented statewide bans, while 16 states leave the decision to local districts or plan to require policies by 2026, including Puerto Rico.

Where cellphone bans are happening

It’s easy to feel like every school is making its own rules about phones, but actually, there’s a growing movement across the U.S. to limit or ban student cellphone use. Here’s a snapshot of how states are approaching it, from full bans to partial restrictions to states with no outright policy. Knowing where your state lands can help you navigate expectations and advocate for your child if needed.

Full ban

Alaska (AK)
Oregon (OR)
North Dakota (ND)
South Dakota (SD)
Nebraska (NE)
Oklahoma (OK)
Texas (TX)
Missouri (MO)
Arkansas (AR)
Louisiana (LA)
Kentucky (KY)
Tennessee (TN)
Mississippi (MS)
Alabama (AL)
Florida (FL)
North Carolina (NC)
New Hampshire (NH)
New York (NY)
Washington, D.C. (DC)
Connecticut (CT)

Partial ban / restrictions

Washington (WA)
Idaho (ID)
Utah (UT)
Kansas (KS)
Ohio (OH)
West Virginia (WV)
South Carolina (SC)
Georgia (GA)
Maine (ME)
Massachusetts (MA)
Rhode Island (RI)
Maryland (MD)
Puerto Rico (PR)
Virgin Islands (VI)

No Outright Ban

Hawaii (HI)
California (CA)
Nevada (NV)
Arizona (AZ)
New Mexico (NM)
Colorado (CO)
Montana (MT)
Wyoming (WY)
Minnesota (MN)
Iowa (IA)
Wisconsin (WI)
Michigan (MI)
Illinois (IL)
Pennsylvania (PA)
Delaware (DE)
New Jersey (NJ)
Vermont (VT)

Cellphone usage continues to be one of the most contentious issues for education leaders. Experts argue devices stifle engagement, disrupt learning, and create mental health issues in adolescents. Thomas Toch, director of FutureEd at Georgetown University, says using cellphones in schools is generally problematic, as the harm outweighs the good. “We’re trying to get kids to engage, to immerse themselves in the subject at hand, to communicate with their peers, to be part of a learning community,” Toch said.

Jessica Deane, assistant principal at Harwood Union Middle and High School in Vermont, noted that phones have been a challenge since their invention—but “it seemed even worse, coming back after COVID.” Teachers like Julia Casey in Missouri report that bans have made classroom management easier, helping students stay on task.

Some states have implemented “bell-to-bell” bans, including Arkansas, Texas, Virginia, and Oregon, where students must keep phones stored away for the full school day. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek highlighted that this helps improve focus, mental health, and safety. New York City Public Schools also enforce a bell-to-bell policy while providing at least one emergency contact method for families. In Kansas, districts largely follow bell-to-bell guidance after a state task force recommended limiting phone use.

Texts from kids often look like this:

“Do we have milk at home?”
“Can you call the attendance office?”
“Should I switch from bassoon to cello?”

None of these require immediate parental intervention. Yet they interrupt schoolwork, delay problem-solving, and reinforce dependence. Phones teach kids to outsource tiny decisions. And when the device is always nearby, research published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research shows their cognitive performance drops—even if they don’t touch it.

There’s no clear evidence that a student’s phone improves safety during emergencies, though they can occasionally serve as communication tools. D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee emphasizes that during emergencies, students should focus on guidance from adults rather than on their phones. Kansas Commissioner Randy Watson similarly notes there’s “no evidence” phones aid during emergencies, and districts report that students are more engaged and happier without them.

What happens when we actually ban phones?

Australia implemented a national phone ban in schools last year. In New South Wales, more than 80% of principals reported increased student focus and better social interaction. In South Australia, disciplinary problems dropped. The U.S. rollout isn’t uniform, but the trend is clear: more districts are trying, and they need parents aligned—not creating workarounds.

A parent playbook for supporting a school phone ban

Think of it this way: instead of relying on a “just in case” text from your child, it can help to set up a real plan. Add the school’s main office number to your contacts and remind your child how they would reach you if something truly urgent came up during the day. Most of the time, those “what if” scenarios that keep us up at night never happen—but it’s reassuring to know there’s a system in place.

You can also use the moments you do have—like drop-off or pick-up—to go over the day’s logistics. That way, your child feels supported, and you feel looped in without needing that constant stream of pings and notifications.

It’s worth remembering that while many parents—78%, according to a 2024 National Parents Union survey—say they want their kids to have phones at school for safety reasons, the actual odds of a true emergency are very low. Having a device in hand may feel like protection, but often it’s more of an illusion of control than a real safeguard.

Create a Family Agreement on Phone Use

During School: Phone stays off and out of reach unless a teacher allows it.
After School: Send one check-in, then put the phone away until homework is done.
If Stuck: Ask a teacher, classmate, or school counselor.
At Home: Bring up anything tricky—we’ll figure it out then.

Respond to Midday Texts Without Undermining the Boundary

“Use your best judgment—I trust you.”
“Try asking your teacher.”
“Let’s talk after school.”

Advocate for Device-Free Alternatives in Class

Even as schools implement phone bans, some classrooms still design activities assuming students will have devices. You can advocate for alternatives that don’t rely on constant screen access—like using a laptop or tablet, providing printed materials, or posting links to class websites. Encouraging consistency across classrooms not only supports the school’s policies but also helps kids focus without feeling like they’re missing out on essential tools.

Let Kids Feel the Awkwardness

Phones allow kids to avoid social discomfort, but growth happens in discomfort. Avoiding eye contact or texting through lunch prevents micro-interactions that build resilience. Psychologist Mitch Prinstein calls this “digital stress.” Without it, kids learn to look up, speak up, and bounce back.

Don’t wait for the research to catch up—we already know what helps kids

Banning phones gives kids what devices never offer: space to grow. Cornwall describes ignoring her daughter’s text about switching instruments. Ten minutes later, the daughter sent another message:

Sources:

The Atlantic. 2025. “What Many Parents Miss About the Phones-in-Schools Debate.”
ABC News. 2025. “Here Are the States Banning Cellphones in Schools and What It Means for Students.”
Education Week. 2025. “Which States Ban or Restrict Cellphones in Schools?”
Research Gate. 2017. “Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity.”
The Common Sense Census. 2025. “Media Use By Kids Zero To Eight.”

Categories:

Health & Wellness, Children's Health