Phone-Free Schools: The National Shift in State Cellphone Policies
A national blog series from Yondr tracking new laws, real results, and what educators need to know
The iPhone debuted on June 29, 2007—launching a smartphone era that today’s K–12 students have never lived without. Since then, schools have been in a near-constant state of adjustment. From early cellphone bans to “Bring Your Own Device” policies, educators have spent nearly two decades trying to balance the promise of technology with the risks of distraction, disengagement, and digital overload.
But students’ access to their devices during the school day now stands to be dramatically curtailed. As concerns about student mental health, safety, and focus continue to rise, state legislators, governors, and education leaders across the country are moving swiftly to rethink the role of phones in schools. And in 2025, that shift is turning into action.
As of May 2025, 20 U.S. states have implemented statewide cellphone policies—including nine with full bell-to-bell restrictions, such as Alabama, New York, Virginia, Georgia, and Oklahoma. Before 2024, no state had such a policy in place. Now, lawmakers across the country are embracing bell-to-bell phone restrictions to protect student learning, increase safety, and improve mental health.
As this momentum builds, we’re launching a new blog series to help you stay informed, prepared, and inspired by what’s possible.
Bell-to-Bell Momentum: A Quick Look
States with full-day cellphone bans (as of May 2025):
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
New funding in New York: $13.5 million allocated to support storage solutions for schools
Leadership moments:
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey placed her phone in a Yondr Pouch at the signing of the FOCUS Act
New York Governor Kathy Hochul visited a Yondr partner school to announce statewide policy
Iowa, Georgia, New Mexico, and North Dakota governors have all recently signed legislation into law
Introducing the Series: Phone-Free Schools by State
To help districts, educators, and families stay informed, we’re launching a new blog series. Each post will take a closer look at one state—breaking down:
What the legislation requires
When it goes into effect
How schools are implementing changes
What results schools are seeing
What educators and families are saying
We’ll also share downloadable resources to support your district, including:
State legislation overviews
Funding strategy guides
Tips for reallocating existing resources
Stories and insights from Yondr partner schools
First up: Alabama, where the FOCUS Act (Freeing Our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety) was signed into law in May 2025. The law requires all public K–12 schools to implement bell-to-bell cellphone restrictions by July 1, 2025.
Some schools, like Pike Road Junior High, are already leading the way with Yondr’s support—and seeing the benefits of distraction-free classrooms.
How We Got Here
The movement toward phone-free schools didn’t appear overnight. It’s the latest chapter in a long story of how educators have tried to keep up with—and respond to—the rapid evolution of technology in students’ lives.
When smartphones first entered classrooms, most districts banned them outright. By the early 2010s, “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) became the norm, with phones encouraged as learning tools. But as social media exploded and screen time increased, the drawbacks became harder to ignore. Then came the pandemic. Remote learning made devices essential—but it also deepened students’ reliance on their phones for connection, validation, and entertainment. Since returning to in-person school, educators have reported rising distraction, disconnection, and difficulty re-engaging students in the real world.
In The History of Phones in Schools: How We Got Here and Where We’re Going, former superintendent Dr. Peter Stiepleman outlines how this evolution unfolded—and why the current moment calls for a more structured, thoughtful approach.
What Schools Are Seeing
Districts that have implemented phone-free environments using Yondr are already seeing measurable improvements, including:
Decreased behavioral incidents and referrals
Fewer classroom disruptions
Increased student engagement
Stronger peer connection and face-to-face interaction
A more focused, calm, and connected school culture
Improved teacher experience, including fewer disruptions, more instructional time, and reduced stress
It’s not just about removing phones. It’s about restoring the learning environment—and helping both students and educators reclaim their attention.
Annual survey of 1,200+ schools that implemented the Yondr Program
The Yondr Phone-Free Schools Program allows students to keep their phones, but stores them in secure, personal pouches during the school day. That means fewer distractions, no policing by teachers, and a consistent bell-to-bell experience that supports focus. We provide:
Durable, daily-use phone pouches
Fast unlocking stations for end-of-day or emergencies
Onboarding for staff, students, and families
Districtwide policy and implementation support
Ongoing guidance and support to ensure long-term success
Ready to Make the Shift?
Whether your state has passed a mandate—or your district is leading the way—you don’t have to navigate the change alone. Let’s talk about how to implement a phone-free program that works for your students, your staff, and your school culture.
Coming Soon: State-by-State Breakdowns
We’ll be releasing new state-specific blog posts every Thursday. Up next:
New York: Bell-to-bell law + $13.5M in implementation support
Georgia: K–8 ban signed into law in March 2025
Oklahoma: One-year ban in effect for 2025–2026
Connecticut: Legislation expected by July 2026
Each post will highlight the latest legislation, share early results, and provide actionable insights to help your school or district plan ahead.
Bookmark this post and follow Yondr on LinkedIn for ongoing updates as the series unfolds.
WANT TO JOIN OUR GLOBAL
COMMUNITY OF PHONE-FREE SCHOOLS?
To learn more about the Yondr Program, click below to request a free demo or consultation.
Yondr has offices in California, New York, Minnesota, London, and Sydney.
