Do Not Disturb: Cell Phones in the Classroom

For today’s students, cell phones have always been part of everyday life. They’ve grown up in a world of instant messages, endless information and constant connectivity. While smartphones offer plenty of benefits, they can also be a problem during the school day, pulling attention away from lessons, classmates and face-to-face interactions.

An internal study at DeKalb County School District (DCSD) looked at students in 25 different classrooms, and data found 25 students were receiving 300 notifications in 30 minutes. “The main reason cell phones are an issue is they’re a distraction. They distract from learning and from engagement. Students receive a notification, and it can take them 15 minutes to reengage,” says Dr. Darnell Logan, Director of Student Relations at DCSD. “So, they’re missing information.”

Across the country phone usage is recognized as an issue, with 29 states creating bell-to-bell policies, according to Education Week. This includes Georgia, which passed the Distraction-Free Education Act in 2025. The act required public school systems to enact restrictions for the use of personal electronic devices (PEDs) for grades K-8. PEDs are any portable electronic device capable of transmitting, receiving or accessing communications, data or media, such as phones, smartwatches, tablets or headphones.

The act went into effect on July 1, 2026. Recently, the law expanded to prohibit the use of PEDs for grades 9-12 and will go into effect in the 2027-28 school year.

Even before the official laws, some local school districts recognized the detrimental role of phones in the classroom. DCSD’s Disconnect to Reconnect program created phone-free environments in 18 schools using either cell phone pouches or lockers.

“Since the implementation of Disconnect to Reconnect, we have seen a significant, measurable drop in cyberbullying and sexually explicit images being AirDropped. After the pilot program, we saw a 17% decrease in discipline infractions in those schools,” Logan says. “It has changed the culture. We’re making strides as we go into this year, and we’re now supported by state law.”

For the 2026-27 school year, all DCSD schools are phone-free zones. Cell phones must be turned off and out of sight.

In August 2024, Marietta City Schools’ Marietta Sixth Grade Academy and Marietta Middle School began using Yondr pouches for students’ devices.

When Dr. Linda Skaggs transitioned from elementary to middle school, the number of distractions caused by phones shocked her. “I wasn’t able to get through a lesson without having to stop multiple times because students were texting or listening to music. It was a constant distraction.” After implementing the Yondr pouches, she noticed a difference. “It sounds dramatic to say it was lifechanging as an educator, but it really was. I’m teaching the exact same content, and nothing has changed but the phones, but test scores are 20% higher.”

The Distraction-Free Education Act doesn’t list one specific way for districts to implement these rules. The law includes specific exceptions for students with special needs and for use during emergencies.

For the Cobb County School District, students in grades K-8 are not permitted to access PEDs while on school grounds during school hours. “Cobb Schools is implementing Georgia’s Distraction-Free Education Act as required by state law. Schools will continue using existing procedures and resources to help students stay focused on learning without additional costs to taxpayers,” says a District spokesperson.

Effective for the 2026-27 school year, Gwinnett County Public Schools bans PEDs during the school day for grades K-8, and high school students are not allowed PEDs during class time. Beginning last year, students at Fulton County Schools could no longer connect their personal devices to school Wi-Fi. Elementary and middle school students aren’t allowed PEDs during the school day, while high school students are prohibited from devices during instructional time.

“We need to disconnect – both children and adults,” Logan says. “It’s a never-ending battle when it comes to the connectedness of cell phones. Children’s minds are still being molded and developed.”

Some districts are rethinking their reliance on technology in the classroom. Atlanta Public Schools is considering limits on how long students can use district-issued devices during the 2026-27 year.

Marietta City Schools are making considerations, too. “Is the student on a screen, just a different kind of screen? We’re moving away from that as a district and not having every assignment be on a device,” Skaggs says. “We are trying to prepare students socially, emotionally and academically for whatever is ahead. We, as a school, have to do what’s best for the kids while they’re in our four walls.”

Start the school year right by understanding the policies at your child’s school, no matter what grade she is in. When you both know the rules, you can more easily help her follow them.

Covering Cell Phone Usage as a Family

• The American Academy of Pediatrics offers tips on how to decide if your child is ready for a phone on their website, healthychildren.org, and they have guidance on creating a Family Media Plan.
• You may be used to reaching your child immediately, but your child will have an easier time following the rules if you do as well. Know the policies for communicating transportation changes or family emergencies to your child.
• Review parental control settings. Consider setting restrictions on notifications and time limits on apps, so your child isn’t tempted during school hours.
• Have conversations about your expectations of his cell phone usage, and remind him what behavior is and isn’t OK.