Phone-Free Schools: Utah Mandates Cell Phone Ban in Public Schools
Statewide legislation aims to remove cell phone distractions in Utah schools.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed into law new legislation that restricts the use of cell phones, smartwatches, and other technology devices during classroom hours in public schools across the state.
The policy, which took effect July 1, 2025, aims to reduce distractions in the classroom and create a more focused learning environment for all.
What the Ban Requires For Utah School Districts
By the start of the 2025-2026 school year, Utah school districts were tasked with:
Prohibiting students from using cell phones, smartwatches, and similar devices during classroom hours, which excludes lunch, recess, and the transition time between classes
Creating their own policies that may be more restrictive than the state-level ban
Allowing for exceptions, establishing policies for situations like emergencies, medical needs, students with disabilities, or other circumstances
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What Utah State And Educational Leaders Are Saying
Early Results From Park City Schools
During the 2024-2025 school year, eighth and ninth grade students at Park City’s Treasure Mountain Junior High School were introduced to a policy restricting cell phone usage. At the start of the school day, students were required to place their phones in Yondr pouches, preventing phone use until the end of the day.
According to school officials, the Yondr system has been “wildly successful.” School officials have reported a marked decrease in incidents related to student cell phone usage — dropping from 78 to 32 incidents since the Yondr implementation.
“I think the data is making it very clear that the kids on cell phones are distracted learners. And then you’re also engaging in typically unhealthy behaviors if you’re just continuing to scroll and scroll and scroll. I think it’s appropriate to give our kids the tools they need and the supports they need to really put it away. How many of you can put away your phone for seven hours? The answer is very few, myself included.”
—Principal Caleb Fine, Treasure Mountain Junior High, Park City
Increased Safety, Student Engagement at Utah’s Largest High School
Granger High School piloted a pouching program during the 2023-2024 school year that a former school administrator called “thrilling.”
From his own data, former Principal Tyler Howe noted that fights dropped nearly in half from the first three quarters of the 2024-25 school year compared to the same period in the prior year.
“I have never had a school year where I saw so few phones out in the classroom. We saw a significant bump in socialization during lunch time. We saw kids reading books, we saw kids bringing board games and card games.”
—Former Principal Tyler Howe, Granger High School, West Valley City, Utah
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The Benefits Of Going Phone-free
Take devices out of the school day, and watch teaching and learning transform. From fewer interruptions to less stress to genuine opportunities for meaningful instruction, recent data shows the positive impacts of enforcing phone-free classroom policies.
The latest findings:
New data from the Pew Research Center found that 74% of U.S. adults support banning middle and high school students from using cellphones during class, up from 68% last fall (Pew Research).
A prior Pew Research Center report cited by the NEA showed that 90% of teachers support banning phones during instructional time, with many linking phone use to increased teacher frustration and burnout (NEA.org).
Research conducted by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University found that removing cellphones and smartwatches from the classroom was perceived to lead to a notable increase in student focus, reduced distractions, and fewer behavioral issues, with many staff respondents also seeing improved engagement and less tardiness (Journal of School Health).
Research from Western Kentucky University found that the majority of teachers reported being distracted by students using their phones during class, impacting their ability to teach effectively (Western Kentucky University).
Schools across the country are proving that removing devices creates more focused, engaging environments for learnings.
How Yondr Can Help Utah Schools Lead
As Utah school districts go phone-free, Yondr’s Phone-Free Program can help schools meet legislative requirements with a secure and effective solution for phone storage.
Enforcing “off and away” policies or communal solutions places an additional burden on teachers, who must monitor compliance, creating unnecessary tension. Yondr’s bell-to-bell solution minimizes teacher involvement, allowing educators to focus on teaching and building stronger relationships with students in a distraction-free, supportive atmosphere.
We offer both in-person and virtual consultations to address your questions and ensure an easy implementation process. Our services include:
Customized policy development tailored to your district’s needs
Comprehensive training and onboarding for staff, students, and parents
Secure, durable pouches that let students keep phones—without the distractions
Reliable unlocking infrastructure to ensure smooth daily operations
Ongoing support to guarantee long-term success
Schools throughout the United States are partnering with Yondr to create phone-free learning spaces that deliver real benefits for students and teachers.
Whether you’re a current partner or exploring Yondr for the first time, we’re here to help you navigate the transition to a phone-free culture. Our program is designed to support schools every step of the way—from rollout to long-term sustainability.
If you’d like to learn more about bringing Yondr to your school community, schedule a time to connect. We’d love to hear from you.