Wake County Board Requires Students to Power Off Cellphones

On December 1 the Wake County School Board voted without opposition to tighten its cellphone policy, adopting rules that require students to turn off cellphones rather than simply silence them, and to disable the smart features of smart glasses. The revision aligns district policy with a new state law that requires school boards to adopt specific cellphone use restrictions by January 1. The board set the policy to take effect in July.

Under the new rules students are responsible for powering off their phones and storing them in a locker backpack or bag for the school day. The policy explicitly clarifies that it does not apply to laptops, including personal laptops, after district officials said confusion about laptop use prompted the change. Students will still be able to bring their personal laptops to campus for instructional use.

The revision replaces an earlier rule that required only that cellphones be put away and that disabled smart features applied only to smartwatches. The board previously approved a standalone cellphone policy earlier this year that imposed stricter limits, following years in which individual schools maintained different rules and enforcement practices.

Board policy leadership framed the directive as a balance between classroom order and reasonable enforcement. “Encourage students to comply with the policy and follow the policy. Give firm reminders," said Lynn Edmonds. "We don’t want to over police students. It’s still new and we know that cell phones are just a part of our lives now.” The statement signals an approach that relies on staff reminders rather than immediate punitive measures, but it leaves practical enforcement to principals and teachers.

The change comes amid a national movement to curb youth cellphone and social media use in schools. Research indicates mixed outcomes, with one recent study finding modest academic gains two years after strict policies were implemented while also reporting higher suspension rates where enforcement was most severe. Those findings highlight the stakes for Wake County, where consistent application and monitoring will determine whether the policy improves learning without imposing disproportionate discipline.

For families and school staff the immediate implications are logistical and procedural. With the July effective date schools must establish routines for storage and enforcement, communicate expectations to students and parents, and track discipline and academic indicators to evaluate the policy's local impact.