Central Ohio schools gear up for a year with minimal cellphone use

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As students head back to school, districts are encouraging them to leave one item at home or hidden: their phones.

The change is state-mandated. Starting Jan. 1, all public Ohio school districts must adopt a policy banning cellphone use during the school day, including lunch or between classes. The new law, signed this summer, allows exceptions for emergencies and medical purposes.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has been pushing for this change for years and had previously signed a law requiring all districts to have phone policies by July. Now, those policies must get more restrictive, a move DeWine and proponents of the ban claim will help students connect with peers and minimize learning distractions. See previous coverage in the video player above.

"School leaders who have enacted policies limiting cell phones have already reported an improved focus on academics and, just as importantly, better social connections," DeWine said.

Some districts will already be in compliance with the new law as students go back to school, rather than waiting until the January deadline. Central Ohio districts, including Canal Winchester, New Albany, Whitehall and Groveport Madison, have all introduced policies since the law was passed on June 30.

“Cellphones will be expected to be turned off and put away for the day,” Whitehall Superintendent Sharee Wells said in a video message to families. “Our office staff are ready and prepared to take your calls and get information to your children as needed.”

Fully compliant policies ban phone use throughout the school day, including time outside of the classroom like lunch or study halls. To ensure they aren't being used, policies direct students to power off their phones and store them in a locker or backpack. Most of these policies offer exceptions for students with medical or disability plans that require cellphone use or monitoring, and during emergencies.

Worthington has also updated its policy and is tailoring it to individual buildings and grade levels, but all students are expected to turn their phones off and keep them put away. The district is launching "Disconnect to Connect" and includes the tagline "Phones Off, Friends On."

"This shift isn’t just about what we’re taking away — it’s about what we’re gaining," Worthington schools said in a message to families. "School is more than academics; it’s a place to form friendships, explore ideas, and grow into thoughtful citizens. When we ask students to 'disconnect,' we’re inviting them to connect — with classmates, with teachers and with themselves."

South Western City Schools has not yet passed a new policy, but said it will implement one this fall. Like Worthington, the district used a branded approach to reduce phone use. Last year, South Western began its #BePresent initiative to try to minimize usage, which the district said was a good foundation to build on under the new law.

Other districts' policies include partial bans but may need to be adjusted in the coming months. Upper Arlington, Gahanna-Jefferson, Pickerington and Reynoldsburg all ban phone use during class but allow use for at least some students -- often only for older grades -- during lunch or between classes. These policies may need to be updated before 2026.

Dublin has long led the charge for reducing cellphone use, and Superintendent John Marschhausen has joined DeWine for bill signings or news conferences related to removing phones in schools. At Dublin, phones must be turned off and kept out of sight unless there is an emergency or medical reason.

Dublin, like many other schools, encouraged parents who need to reach their students to call the office or email their students' school email. Marschhausen said the difference has been enormous for students.

“When you walk into a cafeteria now, you hear kids talking," Marschhausen said. "It’s loud. They’re engaging. And they’re not just staring at their screens."