FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County School District announced they’d be banning all cell phone and personal communication device use by students on the first day of school, Aug.5
According to the district, the move was approved unanimously, and includes all phones, smart watches and tablets.
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“By creating environments free from the distractions of cell phones and personal electronic communication devices, Forsyth County Schools is committed to ensuring that students are provided with every opportunity to focus on learning and engage in positive interactions to support their well-being,” the district said in materials presented during on Wednesday.
As for the policy, Elementary and Middle school students will be unable to have their phones or other devices out, or powered on, during the school day.
High school students will be able to use phones and other devices during their assigned lunch periods, but at no other time.
“They work, they have lives, they’re learning to be responsible and be functional adults in society,” said BOE Chairman Mike Valdes said during the board meeting.
While phones are required to be away, the district will require the devices be off and stored.
The decision follows passage of the Georgia Distraction-Free Education Act, as well as similar announcement by other metro Atlanta area school districts.
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In recent days, Fulton and Rockdale counties’ school boards enacted phone policies to limit or ban the phones outright.
Those policies were drafted in response to the legislation, which gives districts until January 2026 to create new rules and implement them.
The bill itself takes effect on July 1, 2026.
The Distraction-Free Education Act focuses on K-8 students, though in Forsyth County’s case, all students were included.
For Rockdale County, some exceptions were made concerning medical devices, while in Fulton County, the policies remained effective for K-8.
Atlanta Public Schools said they are still considering changes for managing cell phones among high school students.
Forsyth County school officials have not yet defined what “store away” means. It could include requiring students to turn off and put their devices in bookbags, purses or lockers.
Andrea Brown has two students in Forsyth County schools and applauds the ban. “And I do think it is some benefit to have them disconnected from much of their technology so they’re more able to pay attention and navigate for themselves,” she said. “It is appropriate to have them put up during the school day, so they’re more hands on, they’re more involved in what’s going on in the classroom.”
Ming Qin has a rising senior in Forsyth County. “I think it’s good for students so they can concentrate on school studies, no on social media,” she said.
Valdes said enforcement of the ban falls mostly on the teachers. “The enforcement would be paramount,” he said. “There’s no sense in writing something on paper that we’re not going to follow.”
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