More States Introduced School Cell Phone Bans in 2026

Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

As of 2026, at least 35 to 43 states (plus Washington, D.C.) have enacted statewide laws, executive orders, or state board policies that restrict or ban cell phones in public schools, according to lockedinapp.co.

Tracking data summarized by the Harvard Kennedy School Policy Overview, states fall into different levels of restrictions:

• Bell-to-Bell Bans (total restrictions): Roughly 18 to 22 states and D.C. prohibit cell phone use for the entire school day, meaning phones must stay locked away or turned off from the first morning bell until dismissal.
• Classroom / Instructional Limits: Other states ban phones only during specific classroom instruction time, leaving passing periods and lunch breaks up to local schools.
• District Mandates: Many states require local school boards to create their own strict rules or policies, even if the state does not enforce a single uniform ban.

‍

Read the full article here.