NORTH CAROLINA’S NEW SCHOOL CELL PHONE LAW: WHAT STUDENTS CAN AND CAN’T DO IN 2026

North Carolina is entering 2026 with one of the biggest classroom changes the state has seen in years: a statewide restriction on student cell‑phone use during the school day. The new rules, passed with bipartisan support, officially took effect on January 1, 2026, and every public school district must now comply.

The law is part of House Bill 959, signed in July 2025, and now fully in force across the state.

WHAT THE NEW LAW REQUIRES

According to WRAL and the Asheville Citizen Times, the law mandates that:

• Students must turn off their phones and put them away during instructional time

• Schools are required to adopt and enforce a cell‑phone policy by January 1, 2026

• Teachers may allow phone use only for approved educational purposes

• Exceptions are allowed for medical needs and emergencies

• Districts must also teach social‑media literacy and online safety

This means the days of texting in class, scrolling TikTok, or using phones as casual devices during lessons are officially over.

WHY THE LAW WAS PASSED

Lawmakers and educators argued that phones have become one of the biggest classroom distractions. Gov. Josh Stein said the goal is to give teachers a fair chance to teach without competing with screens:

“When teachers don’t have to compete with cell phones for student attention, real learning happens.”

Supporters say the law will:

• Improve focus

• Reduce cyberbullying

• Limit classroom disruptions

• Encourage healthier digital habits

The bill passed with near‑unanimous support in the legislature.

HOW SCHOOLS WILL ENFORCE IT

The law sets the rules — but local school boards decide the consequences.

According to WUNC, districts must determine:

• Whether phones are collected

• Whether they must be stored in backpacks

• Whether magnetic locking pouches will be used

• What discipline applies for violations

Some schools may adopt strict “bell‑to‑bell” bans, while others may allow limited use during lunch or transitions.

WHAT STUDENTS CAN STILL DO

Under the new law, students may use phones:

• When a teacher specifically allows it for a lesson

• During a medical situation

• During an emergency

• When a parent or guardian must be contacted for safety reasons

But outside of those exceptions, phones must remain off and put away.

WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

Parents should expect:

• New district‑wide policies

• Updated handbooks

• Possible new discipline procedures

• Required digital‑literacy lessons for students

Schools will begin rolling out training and communication throughout early 2026.

THE BIG PICTURE

North Carolina now joins a growing number of states restricting phones in classrooms. Supporters say it’s a major step toward restoring focus and safety in schools. Critics argue enforcement may be inconsistent and burdensome.

But one thing is clear: 2026 marks the beginning of a new era in North Carolina classrooms — one where learning, not scrolling, takes center stage.