How Washington County’s phone‑free school plan would work

Students in Washington County Public Schools could be required to keep cell phones and other personal electronic devices stored away for the entire school day under proposed policy changes now under review, according to a community announcement.

The Washington County Board of Education, which governs the school system, is seeking public feedback on revisions to Policy JICJ, which governs student use of personally owned electronic devices. The proposed updates would significantly expand current restrictions by prohibiting device use from the first bell to the last bell, including during lunch, recess and passing periods.

The changes are tied to the Maryland Phone‑Free Schools Act, a state law that requires all local school systems to adopt policies restricting student use of cell phones and similar devices during the academic day, with limited exceptions. The law mandates implementation by the 2027‑28 school year, but Washington County Public Schools plans to move ahead one year earlier, implementing the policy in 2026‑27.

What devices are covered

The proposed policy applies to “personally owned electronic devices,” which include, but are not limited to, cell phones, smart watches, smart glasses, earbuds and tablets.

Under the current policy, students are expected to keep devices off and out of sight during instructional time. The revised policy would require devices to be stored in a locker or cubby throughout the entire school day, according to the announcement.