As the 2025-2026 school year begins, 17 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have introduced new restrictions on student cellphone use in schools, increasing the total number of states with such regulations to 35. These measures include requirements for students to keep their phones in cases throughout the school day, with removal only permitted after school hours. The restrictions aim to reduce distractions caused by phones in classrooms. Some states, such as Colorado, are considering more comprehensive bans, including 'bell-to-bell' prohibitions on cellphone use during the entire school day. School districts across affected areas are adapting to these new rules as part of broader efforts to manage technology's impact on education.