New Ohio law prohibits student cell phone usage, requires school policy

8/20/2025

As the 2025-2026 school year begins, it is essential for districts and schools to create engaging environments that foster learning and strong foundations for all students. To support this goal, Ohio law now requires each school district, community school, and STEM school to adopt a policy prohibiting cell phone use by students during the instructional day by Jan. 1, 2026.

An “instructional day” is any period of time in which a student is expected to be in attendance and includes not only formal instruction time but also supervised activities, such as transitioning between classes, recess, meal periods, and field trips.

Learn more about school cell phone policies in Ohio here.