35 States Now Ban Phones in Schools—Here's How to Extend It at Home

22 states in one year. This isn't a trend—it's a tipping point.

In 2025, 22 U.S. states enacted legislation restricting cell phones in K-12 classrooms. That brings the total to 35 states plus Washington D.C. with some form of phone regulation in schools.

New York—the largest school system in the country—implemented a bell-to-bell ban for the 2025-2026 school year. No unsanctioned smartphone use on school grounds during the entire instructional day. Alabama followed with a statewide ban. New Jersey passed legislation in January 2026.

This isn't a handful of conservative districts making symbolic gestures. This is a bipartisan, nationwide movement driven by one observation that teachers, administrators, and parents all agree on: phones in classrooms are making everything worse.

The scale

35 states. Bell-to-bell bans. Phone pouches. Locker storage requirements. Schools tried incremental approaches for years. Now they're going to the structural solution: phones physically out of reach.

Why schools moved before parents

Schools had advantages that individual families don't. They have authority, clear boundaries (the school day), and social norms (everyone follows the same rule). When a school bans phones, no kid is singled out. It's just the rule.

The results have been striking. Teachers report better engagement. Students report less anxiety. The social pressure to constantly check notifications disappears when everyone's phone is locked away. New York schools reported measurable improvements in classroom focus within the first semester.

But here's the gap: these benefits stop at 3pm. Kids go from a structured, phone-free environment back to homes where there are no rules, no structure, and unlimited access. The contrast makes after-school screen time even more intense—kids who've been phone-free for 7 hours tend to binge when they get home.

The 3pm problem: what happens when school ends

Teachers I've talked to describe a pattern: students are more focused during the day, but parents report that screen time after school has actually increased since the bans. Kids are "making up for lost time."

This makes sense behaviorally. Restriction without replacement creates a pressure valve. If the only structure around phone use is the school's, and home has none, the after-school hours become a free-for-all.

This is where families need their own version of the school's approach—not the same rigid ban (home isn't school), but the same underlying principle: phones are physically managed, not just verbally regulated.

The rebound effect

If your child's school has a phone ban and you've noticed more intense screen time after school, that's the rebound effect. The school solved its problem. The home problem remains.

How to create a home version of the school phone ban

You don't need to ban phones in your home—you need structure. Schools succeed because they create clear, consistent, environmental rules. You can do the same:

• Define your "bell-to-bell" hours. Schools have the instructional day. Families can define phone-free blocks: dinner to bedtime, homework hours, the first hour after school (to prevent the post-school binge). Pick one and be consistent
• Create a physical storage system—just like schools do. Schools use lockers and pouches. At home, a designated charging station in the kitchen or a drawer with a clear rule works the same way. The phone has a "home" that isn't the child's pocket
• Use the school ban as social proof. "Your school does this because it works. We're doing the same at home." Kids who are already used to phone-free hours at school have a much easier time accepting it at home
• Add a physical enforcement layer for the toughest hours. If the after-school rebound is the problem, that's when you need more than a verbal rule. A physical token or lock system prevents the binge before it starts

Having the conversation (without it becoming a fight)

The school bans give parents a powerful ally in this conversation. You're not the only one who thinks less phone time is better—35 state legislatures, thousands of schools, and millions of other families agree.

• Lead with the school experience. "How's the phone ban going at school? Do you feel different without it during the day?" Most kids, if they're honest, will admit it's not as bad as they feared
• Ask them what they'd want at home. "If we created some phone-free time at home like school does, what would feel fair?" Involving kids in the design makes compliance more likely
• Frame it as a family rule, not a kid rule. If you're scrolling at dinner while telling your child not to, the rule has no credibility. The best family phone policies apply to everyone
• Start small and expand. One phone-free block, consistently enforced, is better than an ambitious schedule that falls apart in a week

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my state have a school phone ban?

As of early 2026, 35 states plus D.C. have some form of phone regulation in K-12 schools, with 22 of those enacted in 2025 alone. Major states include New York (bell-to-bell ban), Alabama (statewide ban), and New Jersey (January 2026 legislation). Check your state's Department of Education website for specific policies, as they vary from advisory guidelines to full bans.

Won't my kid just find ways around home rules too?

Maybe, and that's okay. Schools deal with workarounds too—the point isn't perfection, it's raising the bar. When the phone is in a charging station in the kitchen, the workaround requires physically going to get it, which requires a conscious decision. That's the friction that makes the difference.

My child needs their phone for homework and communication. How do I manage that?

Selective blocking solves this. Instead of removing the phone entirely, block the specific apps that cause problems (social media, games, streaming) while keeping communication and educational tools available. That's exactly how NFC-based screen time devices work—essential functions stay available, scroll apps require physical activation.