Ohio schools take a stand on cellphones

Ohio has enacted a law mandating public school districts, charter schools, and STEM schools to prohibit cellphone use by students starting January 1, 2026, with exceptions for emergencies and medical conditions. However, private schools are not bound by this law, although many have already implemented their own restrictions. For instance, Cincinnati Country Day School requires students to surrender their phones for the entire school day, a change that students have welcomed. Troy McIntosh, executive director of the Ohio Christian Education Network, stated: “There has to be a space that our students have where they are not distracted by the pervasive influence of cellphones.” As of July 14, 23 schools have committed to banning cellphones during school hours to mitigate distractions.