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Kansas's Bell-to-Bell School Cellphone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Yes. Under HB 2299, signed in March 2026, Kansas public and accredited private schools must keep student phones and other personal devices turned off and stored out of reach for the whole school day, including lunch, recess and passing periods. Policies had to be certified by 1 September 2026.
Senate Substitute for HB 2299 was signed by Governor Laura Kelly on 19 March 2026. It defines the school day as start of school to dismissal on school premises, including recess, lunch and passing periods. Phones, tablets, computers, smartwatches and earbuds must be off and stored somewhere inaccessible and not on the student's person; leaving them at home or in a car is allowed. Medical needs and IEP or 504 plans are exempt. Virtual schools are excluded.
Kansas had no statewide rule before 2026. HB 2299 also bars staff from messaging students directly on social media and from requiring social media for assignments. Districts had to adopt a policy and certify it to the State Board of Education by 1 September 2026, so 2026-27 is the first year under the law. In June 2026 the State Board declined to issue implementation guidance, with one member suggesting it could wait until 2027.
No state money was attached; a legislative fiscal note put fabric pouches at about $13.4 million statewide. Kansas City, Kansas USD 500 spent $150,000 on phone lockers, and Olathe USD 233 bought storage cabinets for $40,700. Shawnee Mission uses school lockers, De Soto and Spring Hill use office storage, Wichita has students leave phones in a set area, and Lawrence dropped its old high school lunch exception.
Whatever Kansas's HB 2299 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 Kansas, 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
Does the Kansas ban include lunch and recess?
Yes. HB 2299 defines the school day as start of school to dismissal, including recess, lunch and passing periods, in structured or unstructured settings.
Where must phones be kept?
Turned off and stored in an inaccessible place that is not on the student's person, such as a locker, a pouch or storage area at school, or the student's vehicle. Students may also leave them at home.
What was the deadline for districts?
Boards had to adopt a policy and certify it to the State Board of Education by 1 September 2026.
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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