COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov/ Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, and Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Director Stephen D. Dackin announced Wednesday the publication of a model policy designed to minimize student use of cell phones during school hours.
The policy, which prohibits students from using cell phones or similar electronic devices on school property during school hours, also requires that students keep their cell phones in a secure place, such as their locker, a closed backpack, or a storage device provided by the district, at all times when cell phone use is prohibited.
OHIO’S CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS MODEL POLICY
Exceptions are included for students using a cell phone for a documented purpose as part of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or for monitoring a health concern.
The policy also allows school districts to allow students to use cell phones for educational purposes, such as taking notes or doing research.
“By removing the distraction of cell phones from classrooms, our school children will be free to flourish and will see improved academic engagement and social interaction,” DeWine said.
“Schools that implement this model policy will quickly see positive results by giving children a break from the nonstop notifications that have proven to be harmful to student performance and mental health.”
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) created the model cell phone policy to help schools develop their own policies that comply with the requirements of the law.
DEW also has created a toolkit with resources for school administrators, teachers, parents, and students to help promote healthy behavior and set expectations for screen time.
All schools in Ohio will be required to adopt a cell phone policy before the start of the 2025-2026 school year.