No More Cellphones For Students In Rhode Island Schools Next Year

A law passed in June banning students from using cellphones in school takes effect prior to next school year.

The legislation takes effect Aug. 1, right ahead of the 2026-2027 school year.

Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair Melissa Murray, who sponsored the bill, said she was worried about cellphones being a distraction in education.

Related: RI Senate Passes Bill Banning Students From Having Cellphones During The School Day

"While cell phones and other personal electronics have become a part of everyday life for most of us, they are also an immense distraction at school," Murray said. "Fortunately, there is growing recognition that kids are better able to focus and succeed academically, socially and emotionally when schools are device-free. All students and schools in Rhode Island will benefit when kids can engage in real life with their teachers and peers."

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The law "requires each public school to have a policy regarding the use of personal electronic devices on school grounds and during school-sponsored activities, including a prohibition on physical access during the school day, with exceptions allowed for assistive technology and other special needs specified in a students individual education plan or 504 plan, for medical needs such as glucose monitoring or for emergent multilingual learners for language access programs. Exceptions shall also be made in the event of an emergency," according to a media release.

"To address privacy concerns in situations when a school might confiscate a device held by a student in violation of the policy, the bill was amended to add a provision that prohibits schools from searching the contents of any student’s personal electronic device," the release said.

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