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Georgia's School Cellphone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Yes, for now in grades K-8. Georgia's Distraction-Free Education Act (HB 340, 2025) bans personal devices in elementary and middle schools, and HB 1009, signed in May 2026, extends a bell-to-bell ban to public high schools, which must comply by July 2027.
HB 340, the Distraction-Free Education Act, was signed by Governor Brian Kemp on 9 May 2025 and requires public schools serving kindergarten to grade 8 to restrict student use of phones and other personal devices during the school day. Exceptions include IEP, 504 and medical plans. In 2026-27, high schools are not yet covered by state law, though many districts already restrict phones at that level under their own policies.
HB 1009, signed by Governor Kemp in May 2026 after passing the Senate unanimously, extends the ban to public high schools. It covers phones, tablets, smartwatches, headphones and laptops from the morning bell to dismissal, with IEP, 504 and medical exceptions. Districts must have the high school rules in place by July 2027. Schools must also keep emergency plans for contacting parents and returning devices after an emergency.
Districts are planning now. Marietta City Schools uses pouches in grades 6-8 while high schoolers manage their own phones, so its high schools will need a change. Cobb County, Henry County, Cherokee County and Atlanta Public Schools already had bans, and Cobb adopted a stricter policy in December. Gwinnett and Fulton were still deciding how to enforce it. Research from Emory's Rollins School of Public Health has reported gains in engagement.
Whatever Georgia's HB 340 or HB 1009 requires, lockable pouches let students keep their own phone, locked, from the first bell to the last, so the school does not collect, store or answer for devices. Before The Internet ships lockable phone pouches and unlocking bases across the United States, including to Georgia, and can print the school's name or crest on them. Schools buy them outright: one price, no subscription, lease or per-student annual licence. Send us your student numbers and any written quote you already have, and we will beat it.
Frequently asked questions
When do Georgia high schools have to go phone-free?
HB 1009 gives districts until July 2027, so the high school ban applies from the 2027-28 school year at the latest. Districts can adopt it sooner.
Which devices are covered?
HB 1009 covers phones, tablets, smartwatches, headphones, laptops and other communicating devices that are not school-issued.
Are there exemptions?
Yes. Devices required under an IEP, a Section 504 plan or another medical plan are allowed.
Related reading
School phone bans by US state · Phone-free schools toolkit · Bell-to-bell school phone policy template
Written by the team at Before The Internet, a Toronto-based phone-free company that rents lockable phone pouches for events across North America and sells them to schools and venues worldwide, shipping purchases to any country.
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