No Cell Phones In School This Year

The statewide phone and personal electronic device ban for kindergarten through twelfth grade students in Georgia’s public schools officially begins with the start of the 2026/2027 school year. Recently, local superintendents shared their take on the ban, and what they hope it accomplishes in the classroom.

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Georgia House Bill 340, also known as the “Distraction-Free Education Act,” first banned phones from students in kindergarten through eighth grade after being signed by Governor Brian Kemp in May 2025. The law was extended by House Bill 1009, which was signed into law in May 2026 and requires all students, including high school, to put away their phones, tablets, and other personal devices all day in order to reduce classroom distractions.

This new legislation will not bring much change to Montgomery County Schools, as the district implemented a phone ban through their Distraction Free Education Policy last year. “The Montgomery County School System has adopted the “Out of Sight, Out of Sound” approach to personal electronic devices. Students are not allowed to have electronic devices on their person unless there is a documented medical need to do so,” Montgomery County Superintendent Ronda Hightower remarked.

She explained the District’s progressive discipline line for students who choose to violate the phone ban. If a personal electronic device is seen or heard: 1. First Offense: Phone or personal device is turned over to the office for the day after the student powers the device off and signs a claims ticket to accompany the phone noting any existing damage to the device. A parent must pick up the phone. Student receives a minor behavior referral. 2. Second Offense: A parent must pick up the phone or device from the office and sign a contract acknowledging the consequences of a 3rd offense. The student also signs the contract.

3. Third Offense: Phone or device is kept in the office for 3 school days and must be picked up by the parent. Subsequent offenses will result in the phone or device being kept for 5 school days.

This discipline policy regarding the phone and personal electronic device plan is included in the school’s handbook.

Wheeler County Schools also implemented a phone ban at the elementary, middle, and high schools last year, and says that they plan to keep the same policy for the upcoming school year. “We have seen a positive response in student behavior, socialization, and academic engagement,” Superintendent Alex Alvarez commented.

At Toombs County Schools, students will be expected to keep their cell phones and other devices powered off and put away in their backpack from the time that they arrive on campus until the time that they leave the school for the day.

“Our school administration at TCHS recently published a disciplinary procedure to be enforced for infractions that will require students to turn over the device to school staff and parents will be required to pick up the device from the school. We live a world today where screens have become such a distraction that we are missing out on opportunities to learn, grow, socialize and experience the world directly in front of us. By minimizing the distraction of personal electronic devices, it is our priority to continue to maintain a positive learning environment for our students,” Toombs County Schools Superintendent Barry Waller emphasized.

Treutlen County Schools Superintendent Susan Stone spoke on her district’s approach to the personal electronic device ban, as she stated that the district was working to decrease screen time as a whole.

“Treutlen County Schools has adopted a policy that fully complies with Georgia's new law to provide students with a distraction-free learning environment. In addition to restricting cell phones during the instructional day, our policy also includes personal electronic devices and Bluetooth accessories such as earbuds, headphones, and smart watches,” she explained.

Stone added, “While the new law focuses on cell phones, our district has also made a commitment to reducing unnecessary screen time overall. We want classrooms to be places where students are actively engaged with their teachers, collaborating with their classmates, and fully participating in learning. We believe these changes will improve student focus, increase academic achievement, strengthen communication skills, and encourage students to build meaningful relationships with one another.”

Vidalia City Schools Superintendent Sandy Reid stated that her district plans to “phase in” the ban, as students may only utilize their phones during lunch this school year, and will bar the students from using the phones at all during the school day in 2027/2028.

“As Georgia transitions to the new statewide cell phone requirements, Vidalia City Schools is taking a phased approach to ensure students, staff, and families have time to adjust while remaining ahead of the law. This school year, students will be expected to keep their personal cell phones put away and not in use during the instructional day. Students may access their phones during their designated lunch period only. Phones should remain out of sight during class changes and all instructional time,” she explained.

Reid continued, “Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, state law will require a true bell-to-bell expectation for applicable grade levels, meaning students may not use personal electronic devices at any point during the school day, including lunch, unless specifically authorized under an exception provided by law. By implementing this year's expectations, we are providing students and families with a year to adjust to the more restrictive bell-to-bell requirements while continuing to prioritize student engagement, minimize distractions, and maximize instructional time.”

Private Schools

Though Vidalia Heritage Academy and Robert Toombs Christian Academy are not obligated to follow the new phone ban law, they have also placed restrictions on phones and other personal devices to help mitigate classroom distractions.

At Vidalia Heritage Academy, students may choose to bring their phones and other personal electronic devices – including smart watches, tablets, e-readers, headphones, airpods, and any other devices that allow access to the internet, wireless communications, gaming, social media, video recording, or any other exchange of data – on campus, but the device must be placed into the student’s locker or bookbag upon arrival in the school.

The device cannot be seen, heard, or accessed from the time the student arrives at school until the time they leave – meaning, the device cannot be on the student’s person at any time. The phones or devices also may not be used during break, lunch, or morning or afternoon carpool, and any talking, texting, or any other form of messaging on these devices is not allowed during school hours. The device also cannot be used to browse or post on any social media site – including Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Snapchat, etc. – while a student is on campus during school hours.

Exceptions to this ban are: • For those whose health is monitored through their phone and communicated to parents.

• For Seniors who are on campus for the Senior Seminar. However, if a Senior is taking another class on the VHA campus or eating in the cafeteria, they must abide by the stated policy above.

• For Juniors and Se niors who are taking at least one Dual Enrollment Course on the VHA campus— these students are allowed to have their own laptop or tablet for note taking and study. However, any additional personal electronic device is subject to the stated policy above.

• For those taking an online class on the VHA campus—with the teacher’s permission, these students may use air pods while working.

Students who do not adhere to these guidelines are subject to disciplinary actions, including: First offense: The teacher/staff member will take the device and give it to Administration, record the violation in Grade-Link, and write a discipline referral indicating 1 session of Lunch Detention. The discipline referral will require a parental signature and must be returned the following day. The student may pick up the device at the end of the day the offense occurred.

Second offense: The teacher/staff member will take the device and give it to Administration, record the violation in Grade-Link, and write a discipline referral indicating 3 days of Lunch and Break Detention. The discipline referral will require a parental signature and must be returned the following day. The student may pick up the device at the end of the day the offense occurred.

Third offense: The teacher/staff member will take the device and give it to Administration, record the violation in Grade-Link, and write a discipline referral indicating 2 days of In-School Suspension (ISS). Additionally, for the next 30 school days the student will be required to either not bring the device onto school campus, or surrender their device to Administration upon arriving at school. The discipline referral will require a parental signature and must be returned the following day. The student may pick up the device at the end of the day the offense occurred.

Vidalia Heritage Academy Headmaster Jeff McCormick commented on the changes he had noticed from the policy. “When the policy for K Middle School went into effect statewide last year we adjusted our policy to include high schoolers. However, our policy was already pretty strict on the cell phone, but we did see positive changes in the first semester. We will always continue to update these policies to enhance instruction and provide a positive environment in which our students can succeed,” he summarized.

Meanwhile, at Robert Toombs Christian Academy, the school began a phone ban last year, during which students were required to place their phone in a pouch, which is locked during school hours. “Socializing among students improved immediately. There was much more chatter and interaction during break and lunch. Classroom attention also improved for many,” Head of School Scott Tuck remarked.

For more information on the policies regarding cell phones and other personal electronic devices at school, visit your school district’s website or call the district office.