Gov. Mike DeWine signs law restricting cellphone use in Ohio schools
New law requiring K-12 schools in Ohio to have a policy restricting student cellphone use will go into effect in 2025
Erin GlynnOhio schools are now required to adopt a policy restricting cellphone use in classrooms.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed legislation Wednesday requiring public K-12 school districts to create a policy to reduce cellphone distractions and limit cellphone use as much as possible during school hours. Schools that don't want to create their own policy can use a model from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, which DeWine said will be ready within 10 days.
“Cellphones in classrooms pose a significant challenge to learning. It undermines instruction and exposes our kids to potential harmful content," DeWine said at the bill signing at Karrer Middle School in the Columbus suburb of Dublin.
Students will still be allowed to use their phones if they need to for a learning plan or to monitor a health condition.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said he wants students more focused on lessons than likes. He said the law will help students avoid social media during the school day.
"But we're not going to give up on the rest of the day either. We will continue to pursue a policy to put the parents back in charge in the digital lives of their children," he said.
Both Husted and DeWine noted that the bill passed both legislative houses unanimously which is rare.
The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.
Erin Glynn is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.