Williamson County Bans Most Student Phone Use at School, Board Members Cite Mental Health and Focus Concerns

Starting this fall, students in Williamson County Schools will face significant new restrictions on personal cell phone use during the day.

The school board voted unanimously last week to approve a policy that limits student access to phones, with exceptions only under specific circumstances.

As outlined in the following graphic, under the new policy, K-8 students will not be able to use phones at any point during school hours. High school students may use their phones during lunch, but not during instructional time or hallway transitions.

A muted green graphic titled “Policy Explainer: Williamson County Schools’ New Rules on Cell Phone Usage” presents a table outlining device policies by grade level. The table has three columns: Grade Level, Devices Away, and Permitted Use. For grades K–8, devices must be away at all times with no phone use permitted during school hours. For grades 9–12, devices must also be kept away, but students are allowed to use them during lunch. A note at the bottom states that exceptions apply for safety, instructional purposes, health needs, and accommodations under IEP or disability plans.

Exceptions are permitted for emergencies, teacher-directed instructional use, medical or health needs, and accommodations outlined in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan.

Part of a Statewide Push for Limits

The move comes in response to House Bill 932, which takes effect July 1. The law mandates that all Tennessee public school districts adopt policies limiting student phone use during instructional time, but leaves enforcement details up to local school boards.

Williamson County is one of the first districts in the state to approve a comprehensive, full-day restriction, expanding beyond the classroom to include recess, transitions, and hallway time.

As written, the only time high school students will have general phone access is during lunch.

Board Member Calls for Stricter ‘Away for the Day’ Policy

Board member Dr. Claire Reeves called for an even stronger approach during the board meeting. She proposed amending the plan to eliminate the lunch exception for high school students, creating an “away for the day” model across all grades, K-12. 

“What I proposed at the end of the work session as that we amend this policy and exclude lunchtime,” Reeves said. “So, for K-12, it would be away for the day. And then we have a grace period for the first semester of next fall.”

Reeves pointed to a growing body of research and national momentum behind limiting student phone use in schools.

“I believe we should be leaders in this regard, and the data is very, very clear on phone and wireless devices in schools,” she said.

She referenced several national campaigns and studies advocating for reduced screen time in education settings, including: The Phones-Free School Movement, EverySchool.org, and Away for the Day.

Data Cited in Support of Restrictions

Reeves shared multiple data points during the board’s discussion to emphasize the academic, motivational, and developmental risks associated with excessive phone use among teens. Some of that data varies from the 44 independent studies that have shown that in-class smartphone use negatively impacts academic performance to 54 percent of teens saying social media pulls their attention from friends physically present.

Reeves also referenced Jonathan Haidt’s recent book, The Anxious Generation, which examines the psychological impacts of digital life and argues for stronger boundaries between youth and constant digital access.

Moving Forward

Williamson County’s policy may be an early example of how Tennessee districts might navigate the state’s new phone law, not only by setting restrictions but by grounding them in mental health, academic research, and equity concerns.

With school leaders across the state mandated to make district-specific decisions as well, the success or struggles of Williamson’s model could influence how other districts craft their rules in the months ahead.