Students in Glynn County will be expected to put their phones away — and keep them away — during the school day, as a new policy aimed at reducing classroom distractions takes effect this fall.
Under the newly adopted Distraction-Free Education Act, all K-12 students in the district are prohibited from using cellphones, smartwatches, headphones or tablets during school hours.
That includes class time, hallways and recess.
All devices must be turned off and stored in lockers or designated areas in classrooms.
This is about maximizing learning time and minimizing distractions.
The policy includes a tiered approach to enforcement:
- A first offense results in a verbal warning.
- A second offense leads to the device being confiscated and returned at the end of the school day.
- For repeat violations, a parent or guardian will be required to come to school to retrieve the device.
The move aligns with Georgia House Bill 340, which was signed into law earlier this year. That legislation mandates similar restrictions for students in kindergarten through eighth grade beginning in the 2026 school year.
However, Glynn County has chosen to implement the policy early — and extend it to high school students as well — in an effort to ensure consistency across all grade levels.
The district says applying this policy district-wide now will lead to a smoother transition when the state law goes into effect.
The new rule takes effect immediately as students return to school for the 2025-2026 academic year.
