After piloting a cell phone ban in 18 schools last year, DeKalb County School District is extending the ban throughout the district.
Called “Disconnect to Reconnect,” the initiative will prohibit a variety of electronic devices across all elementary, middle, and high schools, including phones, smart watches, AirPods, headphones, and similar electronic devices, according to a release from DCSD.
“Students will not be permitted to use these devices during classes, class transitions, lunch, or any other time on campus,” the release said. “These measures support a safer, more focused learning environment and ensure consistent enforcement across all schools.”
The Disconnect to Reconnect initiative upholds the district’s existing code of student conduct, which has restricted electronic device usage during instructional hours, the release said.
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During the 2024-25 school year, the following schools implemented the ban at a handful of high schools, including Cross Keys, Lakeside, Martin Luther King, and Tucker. Middle schools included Henderson, Lithonia, Sequoyah, and Tucker.
The school system, at the end of the year, reported a 17 percent decrease in student discipline at the pilot schools since its implementation, increased engagement, and fewer “social media-fueled” conflicts, according to a WABE story.
In May, House Bill 340 passed the Georgia Senate 54-2 after the state House of Representatives passed it with strong bipartisan support in early March.
The school district has has an active request for proposal process underway to identify vendors “capable of designing and repurposing secure cell phone lockers or similar storage solutions that can be permanently mounted in all school buildings.”
The Disconnect to Reconnect initiative, according to the school system, “is positioned to foster greater focus, safety, and student connection during the school day by employing consistent policies, engaging communication campaigns, and investing in long-term structural solutions like lockers and signage.”
