Aug. 11, 2026, 1:21 p.m. ET
- Florida law bans phone use for elementary and middle school students during the school day.
- High school students are prohibited from using wireless devices during class time unless instructed by a teacher.
- Individual school districts can set their own additional rules regarding phone possession on school grounds.
Students are back in most Florida schools, but parents and students alike may be wondering what the deal is for phones. Can kids bring their phones to school?
Yes, depending on the school district. But they can’t use them.
As of last year, phone use (and the use of tablets, smartwatches, and smartglasses) is banned in elementary and middle schools during the school day, while high school students may not use any wireless devices during class times unless a teacher specifically instructs them.
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Individual districts may apply their own rules for phone use, in addition to state law, which could mean phones must be kept in backpacks, in designated areas, or prohibited on school grounds. Some districts may also have specific bans on recording video or audio, even during times when phone use is allowed. Parents should check individual school rules.
The ban is intended to reduce distractions in school and restrict the use of phones for illegal activities, bullying, harassment, threatening, or cheating. It’s also intended to stop students from capturing or displaying images or video of another student during a medical issue or while “engaged in misconduct.”
Critics of the law say a total ban endangers children by leaving them without a source of communication during emergencies, such as school shootings, and prevents students from taking video of bullying in school or improper actions by teachers or school safety officers.
Florida leads the nation in banning student phone use
In 2023, Florida became the first state to restrict students’ cell phone use during class, followed by the 2025 law banning it for elementary and middle schools during school hours.
At some point in the future, high school students in Florida may also lose phone use outside of class.
The latest bill called for a pilot program to test a ban on phone use in high schools for the entire school day, while on school grounds, or while engaged in school activities off school grounds in six counties.
The Florida Department of Education has until the end of 2026 to provide a report on the results, including the number of violations related to cheating, bullying, and harassment, and create a model policy for the other districts and charter schools to use.
Can Florida students use phones in school? Can they bring them?
- Elementary and middle school students are not allowed to use any wireless devices such as smartphones, tablets, or smartwatches at any time during the school day (“bell to bell”).
- High school students are prohibited from using wireless devices in the classroom or during other instructional time unless a teacher explicitly instructs it, and then only in a designated area.
Whether a student may have a phone on their person during the school day is up to the individual school districts. Devices used to monitor health conditions, accommodate disabilities, or assist English language learners are allowed, if permitted by school staff.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
