Starting this school year, students across Alabama are tucking away their phones, not just in their backpacks, but out of sight and out of reach. Thanks to the new FOCUS Act, schools are now required to enforce statewide rules that eliminate cellphone use during the instructional day. From Auburn to Opelika to Chambers County, local districts are rolling out their own plans to bring focus back to the classroom.
Wondering how your child’s school is handling the new law? We’ve broken down what each district is doing so parents, students, and educators know what to expect.
Legislative Journey & Official Sign‑on
In spring 2025, Alabama passed HB 166, known as the FOCUS Act (Freeing Our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety). The bill sailed through both houses, passing the House 79 – 15 and the Senate 30 – 2, and was signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey on May 14, 2025.
What the Law Requires
Starting with the 2025–2026 school year, all public K‑12 students in Alabama must have their wireless communication devices turned off and stored off‑their‑person throughout the entire instructional day, including hallways and lunch periods. Devices may be stored in lockers, cars, backpacks, or teacher‑monitored pouches (e.g., Yondr).
Exceptions Built Into the Law
Allowable uses include:
- Medical necessity (e.g. glucose monitoring apps for diabetic students)
- Educational use under teacher supervision
- LIFE-THREATENING emergencies
- Students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan
Local Implementation & Enforcement
Local school boards were required to adopt compliant policies by July 1, 2025 Districts have flexibility in enforcement approaches:
- Some schools implement Yondr pouches
- Others allow backpacks or purses if devices remain powered off .
What Each District Is Doing
🟦 Auburn City Schools
- Students are expected to power off and store devices out of sight (e.g., in backpacks or lockers) during instructional hours.
- Finalized procedures will be released at the start of the school year, based on guidance from the Alabama State Department of Education.
🟥 Opelika City Schools
- Issued a public statement in July confirming compliance with the FOCUS Act.
- All students must keep phones powered off and stored during the instructional day.
- Campus-level enforcement plans will be shared with families before the school year begins.
🔗 Opelika FOCUS Act Update
🟨 Lee County Schools
- Adopted formal policy per the FOCUS Act in its board-approved guidelines.
- Devices must be turned off and stored off-person during instructional hours.
- Exceptions allowed for medical needs or educational use under supervision.
🔗 Lee County BOE Policy Manual
🟩 Chambers County Schools
- Clearly defined in the 2025–2026 student handbook:
- First offense: Phone held until end of period; possible detention.
- Second offense: Phone sent to office; parent must retrieve.
- Third offense: Added discipline (ISS, Saturday detention).
- Fourth offense: Phone returned to parent + OSS (Out-of-School Suspension).
- Devices may be used on school buses with driver permission, but must not be a distraction.
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Why the Push for a Ban?
Proponents cite concerns over:
- Classroom distractions and decreased attention
- Negative impacts on academic performance and burnout
- Research showing 72% of teachers nationwide consider phones a major distraction
- Governor Ivey emphasized that smartphones, while useful outside the classroom, “have no place in our classrooms during the school day except for educational purposes or emergencies”.
- This aligns with a broader national trend: by summer 2025, 37 states had implemented some form of phone restriction during classes, with many moving toward “bell‑to‑bell” bans.
Additional Education Requirements
The FOCUS Act also mandates:
- A state‑wide digital literacy and social media safety course, to be completed before entering eighth grade.
✅ Summary for Parents and Educators
| TOPIC | DETAILS |
| Law Name | FOCUS Act (HB 166) |
| Effective Date | 2025–26 school year, policies adopted by July 1, 2025 |
| Scope | All Alabama public K–12 schools |
| Requirements | Devices must be turned off and stored off‑person during instructional hours |
| Exceptions | Medical necessity, IEP/504 accommodations, teacher‑approved instruction, emergencies |
| Local Enforcement | Consequences vary by district—warnings up to suspension or alternative placement |
| Educational Training | Mandatory social media/internet safety course before 8th grade |
What This Means
- Students may bring phones to school, but they’ll spend the day offline unless exceptions apply.
- Parents will no longer communicate directly with students during class hours—emergencies must go through school offices.
- Educators can adopt clearer, consistent policies to reduce distraction and focus on engagement.
- Districts must define storage methods and disciplinary protocols that comply with the law.
Looking Ahead
This comprehensive, statewide law reflects a growing national consensus favoring tech-free classrooms during instructional time. As districts work out the details, such as pouch systems, local enforcement practices, and parental guidance. This could be a real opportunity to prioritize focus, well-being, and deeper learning in Alabama schools.
Sources
- Alabama Daily News: No Phones, New Paths — What Alabama Students Need to Know This School Year
- Governor of Alabama: Gov. Ivey Signs FOCUS Act Preventing Use of Cell Phones in Alabama Public Schools
- GovTech: Alabama Legislature Passes School Cellphone Restrictions
- WVTM 13: FOCUS on School: Governor Kay Ivey Plans to Sign Bill Banning Phones
- AP News: Alabama Lawmakers Vote to Ban Cellphone Use in K-12 Public Schools
- TIME Magazine: The Parent Movement for Phone-Free Schools Is Spreading
