Away For The Day | Latest News - Mass. Senate passes school cell phone ban

A statewide ban on cell phones in public schools took one step closer to becoming reality Thursday, when members of the state Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation that would implement such a ban.

Bans on school cell phones are gaining momentum across the country, and that growing support is present in Massachusetts as well. Seven individual bills were filed by senators at the beginning of the current legislative session that would implement some form of school cell phone ban. Last session, not a single bill to that effect was filed with the education committee, according to Sen. Jason Lewis.

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

July 25, 2025

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

July 24, 2025

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.

July 22, 2025

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.

April 14, 2025

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.

April 28, 2025

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

June 18, 2025

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.

May 1, 2025

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

July 10, 2025

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.

July 15, 2025

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

July 15, 2025

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.

July 16, 2025

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

March 23, 2025

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

January 17, 2025

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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.

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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.

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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

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