# Phone-Free Schools: Alabama's New Policy, Explained

Jun 17

Written By [Kate Reins](/content/blog?author=67898aa4b82c1c68cee87254/index.html)

_The Alabama state flag flies as new legislation aims to bring focus back to classrooms statewide._

Starting this fall, public schools across Alabama will take a major step toward creating more focused, connected classrooms.

In May 2025, Governor Kay Ivey signed the [FOCUS Act](https://mynbc15.com/news/local/ivey-signs-focus-act-preventing-use-of-cell-phones-in-alabama-public-schools) (Freeing Our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety) into law—requiring all public K–12 schools to implement **bell-to-bell cellphone policies** that keep devices off and out of sight throughout the school day.

### **Bell Momentum: A Quick Look**

Need a quick reference? [Download the Alabama Phone-Free Program Overview (PDF)](/content/s/Alabama_Legislative_Overview.pdf) for a one-page summary of legislation requirements, early results, and how Yondr can help your school stay compliant.

By the start of the 2025–2026 school year, every public district in Alabama must:

- Create a bell-to-bell phone policy  
- Select a secure storage solution (e.g., pouches, lockers)  
- Develop a clear enforcement plan  
- Communicate the policy to students, families, and staff  
- Assign the principal to oversee compliance

The law also:

- Allows exceptions for students with IEPs, medical conditions (e.g., diabetes trackers), or emergencies  
- Requires the State Department of Education to deliver social media safety training before 8th grade

### **What Alabama State Leaders Are Saying**

With overwhelming support from state leadership, the FOCUS Act is more than policy—it’s a statement of purpose. From the bill’s sponsor to the Governor herself, leaders are calling for a return to learning environments free from digital distractions. Here’s what they’ve said about putting students’ focus back where it belongs:

### **Early Results from Alabama Schools**

Alabama schools that have partnered with Yondr to go phone-free are seeing measurable change—fewer disruptions, stronger peer connections, and more time spent teaching instead of managing devices.

**Stanhope Elmore High School (Millbrook, AL – Elmore County)**

Serving approximately 1,088 students in grades 9–12, Stanhope Elmore High School was one of the first schools in the Southeast to adopt a full-day, bell-to-bell phone-free policy. Part of the Elmore County Public School System, the school has seen a sharp decline in disciplinary incidents, fights, and classroom disruptions. It was named a CLAS School of Distinction—one of just 32 in Alabama—for its innovative approach to improving school culture and student outcomes.

- #### Ewell Fuller, Principal — “It’s a Game Changer”

On the culture shift and student engagement after going phone-free

> "The noise level goes way up—but it’s a good noise. The students are actually talking to each other, they play Uno during lunch. It’s the laughing and interaction that’s the good noise."

**Montgomery County Schools**

Serving over **28,000 students across 30+ schools**, Montgomery County is Alabama’s **third-largest school district** and currently the only one with a districtwide phone-free policy in place. Since requiring all students to secure their devices in Yondr pouches during the school day, the district has seen a measurable cultural shift. A staff survey, reported by [AL.com](https://www.al.com/educationlab/2024/01/alabama-eyes-limiting-student-use-of-cell-phones-at-school.html), showed that their Yondr-supported phone-free policy led to:

- 68% of staff seeing increased student productivity  
- 63% reporting fewer classroom distractions  
- 61% observing higher student engagement

> **"I just see engagement, honestly. I see talking. They’re using their words.”**  
> — Gary Hall, Carver High School Principal, [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/growing-number-of-schools-requiring-students-to-lock-away-cellphones-while-in-class-191222341846)

### **Supporting Teachers Starts with Supporting the Classroom**

Better classroom management doesn’t just help students—it helps teachers stay.

When phones are limited during the school day, teachers gain valuable instructional time—and relief from device-related disruptions. **Recent findings show:**

- A pilot study from Auburn University found that teachers in a phone-free middle school reported **increased social interaction** among students and said the new environment made their work **more meaningful and sustainable** ( [Auburn University](https://cla.auburn.edu/news/articles/social-work-research-on-cell-phone-bans/)).
- Research from Western Kentucky University found that the **majority of teachers reported being distracted** by students using their phones during class, impacting their ability to teach effectively ( [Western Kentucky University](https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1915/)).
- A 2024 Pew Research Center report cited by the NEA showed that **90% of teachers support banning phones during instructional time**, with many linking phone use to increased teacher frustration and burnout ( [NEA.org](http://nea.org/)).

As Alabama districts prepare to implement the FOCUS Act, this moment presents a powerful opportunity to not only refocus students—but to **retain and re-energize the teachers who support them every day**.