A new Florida law places “restrictions on student cell phone use and creates a pilot to evaluate full-day prohibitions.”
FLORIDA, USA — School is back in session on Monday, Aug. 11, for Tampa Bay-area students, and the new year comes with a new challenge for them: having to unplug.
For the 2025-2026 school year, Florida is implementing a statewide ban on using cell phones in class for all students across elementary, middle and high school grades.
It’s part of a bill that was signed into law on July 1 by Governor Ron DeSantis that places “restrictions on student cell phone use and creates a pilot to evaluate full-day prohibitions.”
While this change impacts all grade levels, there are different circumstances for each.
Florida school cell phone ban explained
For students in elementary and middle school, cell phones are prohibited for the entire day. For high schoolers, students can use them before and after the bell rings, during lunch and between classes. Exceptions include anything involving medical and educational needs.
While the Florida law is in effect, leaders say there may be challenges in how to enforce it, including at Tampa Bay-area schools.
“Our superintendent and our board already made a recommendation to transition to that, so it’s only a little tweak for us from an elementary, middle and high school standpoint,” Hillsborough County Deputy Superintendent Chris Farkas said. “I think other districts are going to have a bigger gap than where they were, but we were pretty much there. I think it’s communication, make sure kids know what is expected, meeting expectations is what they will do, so you need to lay those out for them so they know what they are supposed to do.”
While most Florida high schools have fewer restrictions, the Florida Department of Education will conduct a study on full-day restrictions in high schools in six districts. They must submit a report with a model policy by Dec. 1, 2026.
