DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Following the success of a pilot program used at 18 schools last year, the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is expanding its ban on cellphones and other electronic devices to all schools.
When school begins Aug. 4, students will be expected to turn off and store all electronic devices, including phones, smart watches and headphones.
“Students will not be permitted to use these devices during classes, class transitions, lunch, or any other time on campus,” the news release from the county says.
The DeKalb County School District is Georgia’s third-largest school system, according to DCSD’s website. It includes 125 schools serving over 92,000 students.
How DeKalb Schools introduced its cellphone ban pilot program
The DeKalb County School District in 2024 became one of the first in Georgia to address cellphone use by students and district officials say the effort has yielded positive results.
In July 2024, a pilot program called “Disconnect to Reconnect” was implemented across 18 schools in DCSD. According to Director of Student Relations Darnell Logan, those schools have seen a 17% decrease in student discipline since its implementation.
The school district is implementing the program in all schools for the 2025-26 school year. The program will create “phone-free” environments during the school day and is consistent with the student code of conduct, which has always prohibited the use of electronic devices during the school day.
“However, the district has updated and clarified these policies for the coming school year to strengthen their implementation and align with best practices for student success,” the announcement from the school district says.
The pilot program included 10 schools that provided and required individual locking Yondr pouches for each student. But that won’t be the case for the systemwide ban, at least not initially. The district has issued a request for proposals to find a vendor “capable of designing and repurposing secure cellphone lockers or similar storage solutions that can be permanently mounted in all school buildings.
“Once selected, these vendors will collaborate with the District to establish a safe and effective way for students to store personal devices, allowing staff to monitor compliance easily and ensuring that these policies are implemented equitably across all schools,” the news release from the district says.
In the interim, the district is turning to low-tech methods to enforce the electronic device ban, according to an email sent to parents.
“New signage will be posted in classrooms and common areas across all schools to reinforce these expectations,” the email says.
Here’s the full email sent to parents on July 30:
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,
We hope you and your family are enjoying a safe and restful summer!
As we prepare to welcome students back for the 2025–26 school year, the DeKalb County School District is excited to continue our commitment to creating safe, engaging, and distraction-free learning environments through our Disconnect to Reconnect initiative.
This initiative encourages students to be fully present during the school day, reconnecting with their learning, their teachers, and one another by limiting the use of personal electronic devices while on campus.
Beginning this school year, all students are required to power off and put away all personal devices during the instructional day. This includes:
Cell phones
Smartwatches
Headphones, earbuds, and Bluetooth-enabled accessories
These expectations are aligned with the Code of Student Conduct and reflect our shared goal of helping every student focus, engage, and thrive in the classroom.
What Families Can Expect:
Phone-Free Zones: New signage will be posted in classrooms and common areas across all schools to reinforce these expectations.
Ongoing Communication: We will provide regular updates, tips, and opportunities for families to stay connected to the “Disconnect to Reconnect” movement throughout the school year.
We understand that adjusting to new routines takes time, and we are committed to supporting students and families every step of the way. Schools that have already implemented this approach have reported stronger classroom engagement, fewer disruptions, and healthier social connections among students.
We truly appreciate your support and partnership in reinforcing this important message at home. Together, we can help our students reconnect with what matters most.
Here’s to a focused and fulfilling school year ahead!
Reporter Jim Bass contributed to this article. This story was provided by WABE media partner Decaturish.
