When Jefferson County students return to school next week, they will no longer be allowed access to their cell phones and other personal electronic devices during the school day.
To comply with a new state law, the county’s school districts have implemented bans on student cell phone use throughout the school day.
Gov. Mike Kehoe on July 9 signed Senate Bill 68, a sweeping education bill that included the prohibition against students using personal electronic communications devices while school is in session. In addition to the ban on students using cell phones and other devices during classes, they also may not use them during lunch, study halls, time between classes and other breaks.
The state law goes into effect on Aug. 28.
“This law reinforces what educators have long observed, the usage of personal electronics often interferes with attention, peer interaction and emotional well-being during the school day,” Hillsboro R-3 Superintendent Jon Isaacson said. “By limiting access during instructional time, we’re creating an environment that’s more conducive to focused learning, deeper thinking and stronger social connections.”
Banned devices include cell phones, smartwatches, personal laptops, tablets, wireless headphones, and other devices that can access cellular data or the internet.
The ban does not apply to teachers and other school staff.
Sunrise R-9 Superintendent Armand Spurgin said staff, especially teachers, use their cell phones differently than students, and it may be important for a teacher to have access to a phone.
“If there is an emergency situation, we want teachers to have a cell phone,” he said. “Our staff (members) take them out on recess duty. They take pictures of kids and send them to parents. We also use them if there is a problem. They need to be able to communicate that way. There are some differences. Do they (teachers) need to be looking at Facebook? No. It’s common sense.”
School officials said a common concern parents have with the new law is that they no longer will call or contact their children on their devices during the school day.
However, school officials said parents may still contact their students through the schools’ main offices. In addition, the law allows students to use their devices in emergency situations, such as natural disasters.
“I do believe cell phones have become a real concern when it comes to the impact on student focus, engagement and just being able to be present in the moment,” said Tammy Cardona, Fox C-6 School District assistant superintendent of secondary education. “While I do believe this new state rule is laying the grounds for us to move in the right direction, I do understand the angst parents are feeling.”
The law also has exceptions for students who need their phones or other devices for health reasons, such as monitoring blood sugar levels if a student is diabetic; or accommodating a student with disabilities or allowing the use of devices that are part of a student’s individualized education plan.
Teachers may also authorize students to use their phones or devices for educational purposes.
Crystal City Superintendent Taylor Massa said the response to the cell phone ban has been mixed.
“Some parents have voiced strong support, citing concerns about distractions, cyberbullying and screen overuse during the school day,” she said. “They appreciate the return to a more focused academic environment.
“Others have expressed concerns about emergency access to their children or students’ reliance on phones for health-related needs. We’ve reassured these families that school offices remain fully available for emergency communication, and we are handling medical exceptions on a case-by-case basis with our director of student services.”
The law requires every school district to write and post a policy banning the devices, and while the ban must be for the entire school day, district officials may create their own disciplinary actions.
The following is a look at how county districts are implementing the new law, and how the new rule has been communicated to students, families and staff members:
Crystal City
The Crystal City School District’s first day of school is Aug. 19, and the district has posted its new cell phone policy on the home page of its website, crystal.k12.mo.us, under the “NEW Electronic Device Policy 2025-2026” tab.
Massa said the district also informed families about the change through emailed letters and social media posts, and the policy will be reviewed during open houses and in back-to-school packets.
According to the policy, the district has different expectations and discipline guidelines for students in seventh grade through 12th grade than for pre-kindergartners through sixth graders.
Older students will be required to turn off their devices and store them in their lockers, while younger students will shut down their devices and keep them in their backpacks.
On the first violation of the policy, all students will receive a warning and be told to put away their device.
Older students who have a second offense will have their phones taken away and held in the office until the end of the day. A third offense is punishable by a lunch detention, and a parent or guardian will have to retrieve the phone from the school office; additional offenses will result in more disciplinary actions.
On a second offense for younger students, they will have phones or devices held at the school office until the end of the day, and their parents will be contacted. A third offense requires a parent to pick up the device at the office, and subsequent offenses will result in additional consequences, up to in-school suspension.
“The biggest adjustment for students will likely be breaking the habit of constant connectivity and reliance on their phones during the school day for communication, entertainment or emotional comfort,” Massa said. “For teachers, the challenge will be consistently enforcing the policy while supporting students in this transition.”
De Soto
The first day of classes for De Soto School District students is Aug. 20.
De Soto Superintendent Ron Farrow said the district updated School Board Policy 2610 to mirror the new state law, and De Soto officials communicated the changes to families through emails and social media posts.
The policy says students must turn off and store cell phones and other devices out of sight during the school day. The policy does not specify where the devices must be stored.
Students in all grade levels who violate the policy will have their phones or other devices taken away for a first offense, and the device will need to be picked up by a parent at the end of that school day. If the parent can’t pick up the device, the student will get it back at the end of the following school day.
For a second offense, the same procedure will be followed for kindergarten through fifth grade students, but students in sixth grade and above will also have to serve a one-day, in-school suspension. A third offense by kindergarten through fifth grade students includes a one-day, in-school suspension, and for sixth grade students and above, the punishment includes three days of in-school suspension or two Saturday school days.
Farrow said the district has not received much feedback about the new policy as the school year approaches.
“We’ve received some positive responses in support of the increased academic focus, and a few questions related to emergency use and student-specific needs, such as medical or IEP accommodations, both of which are addressed in the policy,” he said.
Dunklin
The Dunklin R-5 School District’s first day of school is Aug. 21, and Superintendent Clint Freeman addressed the new cell phone rule in a Facebook video on July 23. The district also provided information through other social media posts, emails, building newsletters and the quarterly Blackcat News newsletter.
In the video, Freeman said if students do not need their cell phones during the school day, he recommends not bringing them to school.
He said cell phones that are brought to school will need to be kept in students’ backpacks and lockers. If a student continually breaks the new rule, the phones will be taken and stored in the school’s office until a parent or guardian comes to retrieve the phone.
“We are not going to go down the road of after school detentions for cell phones,” he said in the video. “We are asking for a partnership that helps the kids know that they should not have their cell phones out.”
Freeman said the district did not receive a lot of negative feedback, aside from some angry emojis on Facebook posts.
He also said the district has been working with Parent ProTech for the last two years to help parents manage their students’ cell phones.
“As a result, cell phones have not been a big issue in our school district,” he said. “The hardest adjustment will be for students tasked with organizing meetings, working on group projects and informing others about events or time changes.”
Festus
The Festus R-6 School District, which has students starting classes on Aug. 18, posted its new policy on the district’s website, festus.k12.mo.us, on Aug. 1. Superintendent Nicki Ruess said the district also has communicated with students and families through social media, a communication app, emails and phone conversations.
“Our goal has been to ensure clarity and consistency so that parents and guardians fully understand both the legal requirements and our school-level procedures,” she said.
High and middle school students will need to turn off their phones and other devices and keep them in their lockers, and younger students will store devices in their backpacks.
Students in all grade levels will receive a warning for a first offense.
For high and middle school students, a second and third offense will be punished with a lunch detention; fourth and fifth offenses elevate the punishment to after-school detention; and sixth and subsequent offenses will be punished with in-school suspensions.
For younger students who have a second offense, the school will call the child’s home and not give the device back until the end of the school day. A third offense will be punished by the device being taken, and only a parent or guardian will be allowed to retrieve it from the school office. Fourth and subsequent offenses will have additional consequences, which may include in-school suspensions.
Ruess said, overall, families have been supportive of the state-mandated change, and she believes the new rule will enhance the learning environment for students.
“The biggest challenge will likely be breaking the habit of constant access to cell phones,” she said. “For both students and staff, the use of mobile devices has become a deeply ingrained part of daily life. While the transition may be difficult at first, I believe that with time, we will all see the benefits of reduced distractions and improved focus in the classroom.”
Fox
The first day of school for Fox C-6 School District students is Aug. 20. In preparation, the district has updated its electronic device policy in its student handbook, which is available on the district’s website, foxc6.org. Cardona said the Fox district also sent emails to families and staff members and posted information on social media.
The policy does not say where students must store their phones or other banned devices during the school day, but it does inform students and families about the consequences of using the devices without permission.
For the first offense, a student will receive a warning. On the second offense, the phone or device will be taken away; a parent will be contacted and the student may retrieve it from the school’s office at the end of the school day.
A third offense also will result in the phone or device being taken to the school’s office, but only a parent or guardian will be allowed to retrieve it. Fourth and subsequent offenses will result first in a one-day, in-school suspension, then three days of in-school suspension and then five days of in-school suspension.
“I believe the hardest part is going to be the consistency in how it is implemented in our different buildings and within different classrooms,” Cardona said of the new policy. “This is going to be an adjustment for both parents, students and staff. In the end, we need to work together to adjust while still keeping our student safety and well-being at the forefront of every decision we make.”
Grandview
The Grandview R-2 School District has a draft policy to enforce the new ban, and it will be sent to families and staff after the Board of Education has approved it, communications director Jason Van Houten said.
The district, which begins classes on Aug. 19, also posted an announcement about the state law going into effect on its website, grandviewr2.com, and information was included in Grandview’s monthly superintendent’s report.
“At this point there hasn’t been much reaction,” Van Houten said on Aug. 8. “Some parents have told us they are in favor of the new law. I think the first few weeks will be the toughest as students and parents adjust to not having instant access to each other.”
Van Houten said he believes the greatest challenge will likely be breaking the habit of constant phone use and instant communication.
He said some students may feel disconnected or anxious.
“Many students have grown accustomed to interacting through their devices, even when sitting side by side,” he said. “Additionally, because phones have often been used as tools for calculators, note-taking, research and reminders, some students may feel unprepared at first as they adapt to learning through a more directed form of technology.
“For teachers, the transition will mean helping students manage restlessness, frustration and the urge to check their phones out of habit. While the adjustment period may be challenging, the long-term benefits could include stronger in-person connections, greater focus and a more engaged learning environment.”
Hillsboro
The Hillsboro R-3 School District, which begins the school year on Aug. 18, has also updated its handbook to include the new policy. Superintendent Jon Isaacson said the district also shared updates about the ban through newsletters, school websites, social media and emails.
The district will require students with lockers to store their phones and other devices there during the school day, and other students will need to keep their phones and devices out of sight.
The discipline for a first offense will be a warning and reminder of the state law. Second and third offenses will result in the phone or device being taken to the school office and not returned to the students until the end of the day.
Fourth and subsequent offenses will be punished by the phone or device being taken to the school office and allowing only a parent or guardian to retrieve it for the student.
Isaacson said most parents seem to appreciate the new rules, and so far, the main concern is about how they can contact their students during the school day.
“Ultimately, this change isn’t about punishment – it’s about prioritizing what matters most during the school day: learning, growing and building connections that will serve our students well beyond the classroom,” he said. “(Teachers) will work to help students develop alternative strategies for time management and social connection that don’t rely on phones. I’m confident our staff is prepared, and we’re committed to approaching this transition with empathy and structure.”
Jefferson R-7
Jefferson R-7 Superintendent David Haug said the district’s policy was expected to be released on Monday, after the Leader deadline. Jefferson R-7’s first day of school is Aug. 19.
“At a minimum, the policy shall prohibit students from using or displaying these devices from the beginning until the end of the school day, including, but not limited to, during instructional time, meal times, breaks, time between classes and study halls,” according to the student handbook, which is available on the district’s website, jr7.k12.mo.us.
“The Jefferson R-7 School District Administration agrees with state leadership that electronic personal communication devices impede the learning process,” Haug said. “Our approach will be a continued commitment to prioritize the learning environment and align with state statute.”
Sunrise
Sunrise R-9 Superintendent Armand Spurgin said the district sent preliminary communication to parents informing them about the state law going into effect. He said more information will be shared following the Aug. 19 school board meeting. Aug. 19 is also the first day of classes for Sunrise students.
“We will put more definition to it that night (Aug. 19) as far as what our emergency situations are going to be,” he said. “The law gives you a little leeway on emergency-type stuff. We will be able to put our policy in place that night.”
Spurgin said because Sunrise does not have a high school, cell phones and other devices are not as prevalent as they are in other county school districts.
“It is a different dynamic when you are K-8,” he said. “We have had a few parents upset. What we are hearing mostly is, ‘If my kid can’t have their cell phone, then those teachers better not have their cell phones.’”
Spurgin said it’s likely the disciplinary actions for violating the new policy will be to tell the student to put away the phone or device for a first offense. The second offense will likely be handled by the phone or device being taken to the school office, where it may be retrieved by either a student or parent at the end of the school day.
The district’s policy already says students should turn off their devices and leave them in a locker or backpack during school hours. It also says students should not call home during the day on their phones and instead use school phones.
“The cell phone has become such a big part of our society, it is hard to strip that away,” Spurgin said. “It is not going to change that much for us. Our kids are kind of in that mode anyway. Now, it is just a state law. It will kind of force everyone to follow the rules a little bit better.”
Windsor
Windsor C-1 School District Superintendent Jason King said on July 24 that the district, which starts school on Aug. 19, posted a graphic explaining the new law on its website and social media channels. He said Windsor will share updated guidelines regarding personal electronic devices this week.
King said the reaction to the graphic was largely positive, and most concerns were about exceptions to the rule for students who need devices for educational and medical purposes.
“We understand that technology is a part of everyday life, but this legislation and our approach to it reflects a growing concern about how device use can interfere with student learning, focus and interpersonal connections,” he said. “Our responsibility is to create a safe, productive environment where students are fully engaged and free from unnecessary distractions.”
Northwest
The Northwest R-1 School District will begin the school year on Aug. 18, and Superintendent Jennifer Hecktor said she informed families about the cell phone ban in her end-of-the-year newsletter. She also said the district sent communication to families in July about the policy change, and principals also included information about the changes in their back-to-school communication.
In the Northwest handbooks for students, those who violate the policy may receive Level one or Level two discipline. Those levels include measures such as scheduling conferences with students and parents, creating behavioral contracts for students, students getting an alternate recess or lunch location, in-school detention and suspension.
“I believe the state law will help eliminate distractions to learning, encourage increased face-to-face interaction among students and, eventually, will make students feel more secure at school,” Hecktor said.
She said one of the biggest adjustments will be communicating to students and families about changes to plans for sporting events, practices and transportation.
“Families and students have become accustomed to last-minute changes being discussed throughout the day via cell phones,” she said. “We are encouraging our staff to be highly cognizant of avoiding cancellations when possible and reminding them of the various ways we can communicate changes to families when needed.”