Local schools report better student engagement under cell phone bans

Washington County and Johnson City school officials say they've noticed an increase in student engagement and fewer classroom distractions since adopting stricter policies on student cell phone use during school hours. The changes are in line with a new state law that took effect in July 2025 before the current school year, which required schools across Tennessee to develop policies that prohibit wireless communication devices during classroom time. Washington County Schools Superintendent Jerry Boyd said the state mandate largely strengthened existing district policies aimed at limiting students' cell phone use. He believes the change has helped create a more focused learning environment. "Since administering the guidelines with the support of the legislation at the beginning of this school year, our schools have seen students more engaged with teachers and peers and fewer distractions during the day," Boyd said in an emailed statement. "While the transition continues to require some adjustment by students, families, and educators, early feedback suggests a more focused and connected classroom environment." Johnson City Schools Superintendent Erin Slater said her district put similar restrictions in place a full year before the legislation went into effect, allowing school administrators to set clear expectations ahead of time. "Rather than relying on phone pouches or collecting devices, we focused on a straightforward expectation: phones are to be silenced and kept out of sight during instructional time, unless explicitly permitted for instructional or health-related reasons," she told the Press. "While this isn't a cure-all, it has contributed to calmer classrooms and more meaningful instructional time." Slater said feedback has been mostly positive from teachers and parents. She said teachers say their students are "more engaged in discussions and more attentive during instruction." "Teachers appreciate having a clear policy they can consistently enforce, and many parents have expressed support, especially when they see the benefits in their children's focus and academic habits," she said. "Students were understandably hesitant at first, but most have adjusted well and now see it as a normal part of the school day." Slater said the biggest hurdle early on was ensuring consistency and "making sure expectations were applied uniformly across classrooms and schools." She said this was remedied with the help of "clear administrative support." "One pleasant surprise has been how smoothly students adapted," she said.