Georgia schools ban personal devices 'bell to bell' starting July 1 — here's what parents need to know

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Starting July 1, every public school in Georgia serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade must have a policy in place restricting personal electronic devices during the instructional day.

The mandate — passed by the General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session and expanded in 2026 — requires what lawmakers have called a “bell-to-bell” restriction: from the moment students enter the building in the morning to the moment they leave in the afternoon, personal phones, smartwatches, and tablets must be stowed and inaccessible.

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Georgia schools ban personal devices 'bell to bell' starting July 1 — here's what parents need to know