Local Maryland School Districts Create Strict Cell Phone Policies

Most Prohibit Use Of Cell Phones By Students During The School Day

During the 2026 Maryland General Assembly, legislators passed the Maryland Phone Free Schools Act, or SB 928, which requires that every Maryland school district implement a policy by the 2027–28 school year prohibiting student use of personal electronic communication devices during the entire academic school day. That means no access from bell to bell, no access to social media platforms during the school day, and that students store devices during the day.

There are exemptions made for disabled students or students with technology as a condition of their IEP.

For the most part, teachers are pleased about this. Parents seem divided with some claiming that the law is an intrusion on a parent's right to determine how their child uses his/her cell phone during the day. Others worry that their child won't be able to reach them during emergencies.

But, bill sponsors stated reasons for passing the legislation. Most of them cited the fact that teachers complain about students being distracted during class with social media and text messages. They also talked about students using cell phones to record violence in the schools and then post it on social media. This encourages more violence.

In a 2025-2026 survey of Local Education Agencies, the vast majority of LEA's said they had cell phone policies, but these policies differed in rules, consequences, etc.

The following districts appear in MSDE’s statewide summaries, Task Force materials, or resolution language as having current, active, or recently updated cell phone policies as of 2025-2026:

These districts are explicitly described in MSDE’s 2025–26 statewide summaries as having current, active, or recently revised policies.

This includes:

• Allegany

• Anne Arundel

• Baltimore City

• Baltimore County

• Calvert

• Caroline

• Carroll

• Charles

• Dorchester

• Garrett

• Kent

• Montgomery

• Queen Anne’s

• Somerset

• St. Mary’s

• Talbot

• Washington

• Wicomico

• Worcester

  
  

Frederick, Howard, Harford, Prince Georges, Cecil were not on the list.

Changes in the policies are listed on their websites.

Talbot County Public Schools’ new cell phone policy is a full “no cell, bell‑to‑bell” ban for all students, beginning in the 2026–27 school year.

The bottom line in Talbot is that students may not use cell phones, smartwatches, headphones, earbuds, or any personal communication device at any time during the school day; from arrival bell to dismissal bell.

This means they may not be used in class, in transitions, during lunch or during free periods. The decives must remain stored and unused throughout the school day.

Devices must remain stored and unused throughout the entire instructional day.

In a discussion with Talbot Superintendent Dr. Sharon Pepukayi last week, she stated that the system wasn't required to create this policy for this 26-27, but they wanted to get on the policy a year early.

YONDR pouches, which have been used in other Talbot schools in previous years, are part of the initiative if the system can afford them. Here is the YONDR website: Yondr

The YONDR pouch requires students to put their phones in the pouch upon arrival at school. They keep the pouch with them, but it is locked to prevent students from using their phones. In order to use the phone, a student must go to an "unlocking" station to access it.

There are some exceptions to the ban for documented medical needs (diabetes monitors, heart conditions, etc.) or approved IEP/504 accommodations.

If a student does not comply, there is a clear, escalation discipline structure:

1. 1st offense: Phone taken to office; student picks up at end of day

2. 2nd offense: Phone taken; parent must pick up

3. 3rd offense: Office referral; parent pick‑up

4. 4th offense: Office referral; student must turn in phone daily for the rest of the quarter

According to sources, Talbot's policy is one of the strictest in Maryland and moves the entire district to a phone free school day.

Other districts, such as nearby Caroline County, have slightly different policies. Caroline has middle schools using YONDR pouches and high schools with full-day restrictions on phone usage. Baltimore County has revised usage in instructional settings but allows limited usage during lunches.

Dorchester County and Queen Anne's County also have full day restrictions. Dorchester is implementing a YONDR pouch pilot in middle schools.

We spoke off the record to some teachers about this change. Most were happy about the restrictions but questioned whether administrators would follow through on disciplinary actions. They said that in the past, school administrations didn't help with the policing of cell phone usage. They also said that ALL classrooms needed to buy in to the policy to make sure it was being fully and properly implemented.

The efficacy of these policies is yet to be seen. Systems will undoubtedly monitor student academics and behavior because of the bans.

Jan Greenhawk, Author

August 13, 2026

Jan Greenhawk is a former teacher and school system administrator for over thirty years. She has two grown children and lives with her husband in Maryland. She also spent over twenty-five years coaching/judging gymnastics and coaching women’s softball. She was a former county Teacher of the Year and one of five finalists for Maryland Teacher of the Year.

This article was originally published on the Easton Gazette.

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