OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (KOKH) — As students head back to class, schools across Oklahoma are rolling out a major change: a statewide cell phone ban during school hours.
The new “bell to bell, no cell” policy applies to all Oklahoma schools and aims to eliminate distractions and boost in-class learning.
“The law passed this spring by our state legislature requires every school in Oklahoma to have a policy that bans cell phone use during the school day,” explained Tony Childers, General Counsel for Oklahoma City Public Schools.
What’s Banned?
The policy doesn’t just apply to cell phones. It covers a range of personal electronic devices, including:
-
Smartphones
-
Smartwatches
-
Tablets
-
AirPods
-
Any device that connects to the internet or a smartphone
Changes Across School Districts
Tulsa Public Schools also updated its rules. Last year, high schoolers could use phones during non-instructional times. That flexibility is now gone.
“That’ll feel a little different this year for our high school students,” said Caroline Crouch, Executive Director of Communications for Tulsa Public Schools.
What Do Students Think?
Some students are adjusting with optimism.
“It might be a little hard the first couple of weeks, but I think students will get used to it,” said Amasha Samaraweera, Teen Superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools.
She admits the ban is a “bummer,” but sees the upside.
“It’s meant to encourage more face-to-face connections. Maybe students will start conversations, make friends, or even bring card games to play during lunch.”
What You Need to Know
Students can still bring their phones and devices to school for emergencies or after-school use, but they can’t use them during school hours—from the first bell to the last.
The move is part of a broader effort to refocus classroom attention and foster better social interaction among students.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
Leave a Reply