1-18-2026 6:50pm

Policy Prohibiting Cell Phone Use Now In Effect In All Ohio Schools

Beth Callahan Editor

Photo via Pexels.com

When Ohio students returned to school after the holiday break, they were all met with the new Ohio law that required each school district to adopt a policy prohibiting cell phone use by students during the instructional day by Jan. 1, 2026.

According to Ohio law 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."

Each district board must make their cell phone policy publicly available and post the policy prominently on its publicly accessible website, if it has one.

Districts and schools may prohibit students from carrying cell phones on school property. Districts and schools may also prohibit the use of all electronic communications devices, which includes cell phones, smart watches, and other devices that are powered by batteries or electricity and that are capable of receiving, transmitting, or receiving and transmitting communications.

The policy should also include a list exceptions and disciplinary actions for violations. Once the policy prohibiting cell phones on school property is implemented, the policy must be posted in a central location in each school building and available to students and parents upon request.

Students may need access to their cell phones for educational or medical reasons. The law allows students to use their devices for specific purposes related to:

the student's individualized education program developed under Ohio law pertaining to the education of children with disabilities;
the student’s plan developed under section 504 of the "Rehabilitation Act of 1973," 29 U.S.C. 794;
student learning;
monitoring or addressing health concerns; or
an active threat or emergency as detailed in the building's comprehensive emergency management plan adopted under Ohio law.

If a student has a written statement from a doctor requiring the use of a cell phone to monitor a health concern, the district or school must allow the student to use a cell phone for that purpose.

Schools and districts can use the Department’s Model Cell Phones in Schools Policy to assist with crafting local policies. To see on your school district's policy, click on your schools name below:

More News from Franklin

Local Scouts Doing A Good Deed Good News Story From The Fall of 2025
DISCOVERING WARREN COUNTY’S CHUBBY’S PIZZA CHUBBY’s PIZZA is in South Lebanon, Morrow and Blanchester.

I'm interested

I disagree with this

This is unverified

Spam

Offensive

Replies

David Craig Neighbor

1-18-2026 8:45am

Seriously? How about we federalize the National Guard and send them in to round up all the folks that are breaking the law, and let ICE do their job of maintaining the law? Hope you enjoy the redistricting next election, Mr. Landsman.