Caught with a cellphone in school? Here are the consequences at one major Alabama system

Megan Plotka, AL.com

Public school students across Alabama, including those in Huntsville City Schools, are stepping into their first day of classes with a new phone policy for the 2025-2026 school year.

The State of Alabama enacted the Freeing our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety (FOCUS) Act, or HB166, during the 2025 legislative session. It largely bans cellphones and other handheld electronics in schools, even during lunch or in the hallway.

‍

Read the full article here.

More Like This

Tennessee enacts statewide classroom cell phone ban

Mass. Senate passes school cell phone ban

Topeka Public Schools to ban phones in classrooms this school year

Amarillo phone ban helped end vaping, fights

As the first day of school approaches, Jefferson County Public Schools is gearing up for a complete cellphone ban districtwide.

A big change is coming to New York City public schools beginning this September, aimed at eliminating distractions in the classroom.

Oelke said that she had previously worked at a school with a zero-tolerance cell phone policy. “It was absolutely one of the best teaching years that I have had in over a decade,” Oelke said.

Officials with the Phoenix Elementary School District said they follow "away for the day" guidelines, where students have to turn their phones off once they get to campus.

Anchor Bay schools are going cellphone-free this fall. The district is planning to roll out a new “Away-for-the-Day” device policy at the start of the 2025-26 school year.

Schools that have adopted “away for the day” policies, including those in Colorado, Ohio, Portland and elsewhere, say that the lunchroom is loud again.

Cellphones, watches, earbuds restricted in Alabama schools this fall: What you need to know

Wenatchee Schools to Enforce Cell Phone-Free Policy Starting Fall 2025

Last year, Poughkeepsie City School District implemented an ‘away for the day’ policy at the middle and high school.

The new “away for the day” policy was approved by the district’s governing board Tuesday night.

Anchor Bay Schools calls it the “Away-for-the-Day” device policy, and some parents have told Local 4 that they have safety concerns about it.

'Away for the day' cellphone rule to remain in place in Harrison County (West Virginia) schools

Every school district in Tennessee will have some form of a cellphone ban once school starts in a few weeks due to a new state law.

Ohio private schools don't have to follow the new student cell phone ban. Some are anyway

Under the new policy, Scotia-Glenville middle and high school students will be required to keep their phones in their lockers from the start to the end of the school day. The district has decided against using phone pouches.

Texas implements statewide ban on cell phones and smartwatches in schools to curb distractions

Missouri student cell phone ban signed into law

Ohio school districts prepare to implement new budget’s ban on cell phone use by students

A new school year will bring cell phone bans, new classes, and new education costs

Massachusetts one step closer to banning cellphones in schools

Cellphones banned in NC schools? What to know about new legislation

Cell, no! After Two Years of Debate, Oklahoma Schools Get Months to Ban Phones

Smartphone bans in Dutch schools have improved learning, study finds

Vermont, Ohio, North Carolina, and Oregon have all enacted statewide bans on cellphone use in K-12 schools since June 27

Gov. Kotek issues executive order banning cellphones during school hours

Ridgefield Parents Push For Bell-to-Bell Cellphone Ban At Schools Amid Growing Statewide Support | Ridgefield, CT Patch

Cellphone Policy Catching on with Students, Parents - Seattle Public Schools

October 2, 2024

Gilbert Public Schools bans cellphone use for K-8 students

Is LAUSD's cellphone ban working? Here's what we know after one semester

Conroe ISD "unanimously approved what it's calling the “away for the day” policy"

Texas governor signs statewide cellphone ban for public schools into law

Portland School Board votes to ban cellphones during school hours

Nevada becomes 21st state to adopt cellphone ban or limit

Youngkin signs bill banning cellphone use in Virginia public schools

Cellphone Ban Adopters Share How They Did It—and How It’s Changed Students

Our school started enforcing its cell phone ban. The results have been astounding.

Half of U.S. states now have laws banning or regulating cellphones in schools, with more to follow

Michigan lawmakers agree on restricting student phone use, but differ on how

Hochul: New York’s classroom phone ban ‘saving education’

Palm Beach County School Board backs a 'bell-to-bell' cellphone ban for K-8 students

Oklahoma governor signs mandatory one-year school cellphone ban into law

New York Bans Smartphones in Schools, Joining National Movement

The Global Fight Against Smartphones In School Gets A Big Boost — Finland Joins The Pack

Florida expands cell-phone ban in elementary and middle schools, and select high schools

As a nationwide push to ban cellphones in schools grows, Congress looks to get involved

Nationwide proposal to remove cellphones from classrooms introduced

Ohio governor pushes for statewide ban on cell phones in schools

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signs school cell phone restrictions into law

‘It was so freeing’: How a cellphone ban is changing life at a Virginia high school

While a new policy has not yet been set, Friendswood ISD officials are inching closer toward an “away for the day” cellphone policy for the 2025-26 school year

More states move to ban cellphones in school as Georgia is latest to act

Off the Screen: St. Mary's implements phone-free school day

Texas bill would ban K-12 students from using cell phones during school hours

Phone bans sweep US schools despite skepticism

School cell phone ban passes Oklahoma House, Senate

One School’s Bold Move to Lock Away Phones Transformed Learning

Los Angeles public schools begin ban on cellphones

February 20, 2025

Flaws in a Recent Lancet Study on Phone Use in Schools

February 25, 2025

Illinois governor to back ‘screen-free schools’ and join national trend to ban cellphones in class

February 19, 2025

LAUSD cell phone ban takes effect Tuesday: How it works

February 18, 2025

What Are the Best Ways to Manage Cellphones in Schools?

February 14, 2025

New York governor proposes ban on phone use in schools

February 3, 2025

State lawmakers want a cell phone ban in Georgia elementary and middle schools

February 11, 2025

CT school officials say they're seeing higher grades, better attendance with cellphone bans

January 12, 2025

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has introduced legislation that would ban cellphones and other personal electronic devices during school hours

January 17, 2025

Smartwatches banned in Alexandria City Public Schools classrooms

January 1, 2025

‘Students will benefit from fewer distractions in the classroom’: Pinterest CEO supports phone-free schools

January 23, 2025

Teens spend 90+ minutes on their phones during typical school day

February 3, 2025

How Fairfax Co.’s middle school cellphone pilot program is working

December 20, 2024

A North Texas high school locked up cellphones. Here’s what happened

December 28, 2024

Ohio’s School Cell Phone Policies Taking Hold

December 10, 2024

Schools face a new threat: "nudify" sites that use AI to create realistic, revealing images of classmates

December 15, 2024

An Epidemic of Vicious School Brawls, Fueled by Student Cellphones

December 15, 2024

Teens can't get off their phones. Here's what some schools are doing about it

December 3, 2024

Iowa governor calls on lawmakers to vote on cellphone ban, Nebraska educators push for legislation

November 28, 2024

How the LAUSD Cell Phone Ban Will Work

November 14, 2024

'It's hurting their mental health': Colorado school district bans use of cellphones

November 21, 2024

Which States Ban or Restrict Cellphones in Schools?

November 4, 2024

Most teachers want cellphone bans, survey finds

October 25, 2024

Away for a Day is making schools smartphone-free to improve grades and mental health

August 30, 2024

Portland Public Schools study finds students prefer ‘off and away’ phone policies

October 21, 2024

Most Americans support banning cellphones in classrooms, Pew survey says

October 15, 2024

What this high school senior wants adults to know about classroom phone bans

October 10, 2024

How can North Jersey parents limit their kids' screen time?

October 2, 2024

How a South Jersey school district is implementing a cell phone ban to ease classroom distractions

September 26, 2024

California schools must limit student smartphone use by 2026

September 23, 2024

'Educational' Screens In Classrooms Do More Harm Than Good | Opinion

September 18, 2024

Virginia adopts statewide 'bell-to-bell' cell phone ban in public schools

September 17, 2024

California Passes Phone-Free School Act

September 5, 2024

Why Schools Are Racing to Ban Student Phones

August 26, 2024

Jonathan Haidt - Why Cellphones and School Don't Mix

August 13, 2024

New Podcast talks about Cell Phones in Schools being Away For The Day

August 12, 2024

California School District Urges Parents to Have Their Kids Leave Phones at Home

Duluth Middle Schools Trial Away For The Day Policies

Scottsdale Schools Tell Students To Put Cell Phones “Away For The Day”

August 14, 2023

Travers City Area Public Schools Introduce Away For The Day Policies

Take the "Away For The Day" pledge and show that you support school policies that require students to put their cell phones away in lockers, backpacks, or other places all day.

Take The Pledge Here