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Rhode Island's School Cellphone Ban: What Schools Need to Know in 2026
Yes. Since 1 August 2026, Rhode Island law requires every public school and charter school to have a policy that bars students from physically accessing cellphones and other personal electronic devices during the school day, with exceptions for medical, disability, language and emergency needs.
The law, 2025-S 0771A and 2025-H 5598A, is now Rhode Island General Laws section 16-21-43 and took effect on 1 August 2026. Each public school must have a policy on personal electronic devices on school grounds and at school-sponsored activities, including a ban on physical access during the school day. Exceptions cover assistive technology in IEPs or 504 plans, medical devices such as glucose monitors, language access for multilingual learners and emergencies.
Sponsored by Sen. Melissa Murray and Rep. Julie Casimiro, the bill passed the House unanimously in June 2025 and became law that month. After ACLU concerns, it was amended so schools may not search the contents of devices they hold. Districts and charters must file their policy with the Rhode Island Department of Education. By the August 2026 deadline eight had not, including New Shoreham, East Providence and Newport, and it is unclear what follows.
The state leaves storage and enforcement to local officials, and the law does not say whether lunch counts as part of the school day, so check your own policy. Before the law, Central Falls High School and South Kingstown already locked phones in pouches for the full day, and some Providence schools did the same. Lincoln High School had banned phones in class only, allowing them at lunch and between classes. No state funding was attached.
Whatever the Rhode Island law 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 Rhode Island, 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 did the Rhode Island law take effect?
On 1 August 2026. Each district and charter school must file its device policy with the Rhode Island Department of Education.
Can a school search a confiscated phone?
No. The law bars schools from searching the contents of a device they are holding, a protection added after privacy concerns raised during the bill's passage.
Does the ban cover lunch?
The law bans physical access during the school day but leaves details to districts, so practice varies. Check your district's filed policy for lunch and passing periods.
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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