DeKalb expands cell-phone ban to all schools for 2025-26 year

After piloting a cell phone ban in 18 schools last year, DeKalb County School District is extending the ban throughout the district.

Called “Disconnect to Reconnect,” the initiative will prohibit a variety of electronic devices across all elementary, middle, and high schools, including phones, smart watches, AirPods, headphones, and similar electronic devices, according to a release from DCSD.

“Students will not be permitted to use these devices during classes, class transitions, lunch, or any other time on campus,” the release said. “These measures support a safer, more focused learning environment and ensure consistent enforcement across all schools.”

During the 2024-25 school year, the following schools implemented the ban at a handful of high schools, including Cross Keys, Lakeside, Martin Luther King, and Tucker. Middle schools included Henderson, Lithonia, Sequoyah, and Tucker.

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