Oconee County Schools adopted a policy to limit phones at a meeting of the Board of Education this week.
The Board unanimously passed a rule requiring students to turn off and store their electronic devices during school hours. High school students will be allowed to access their devices during specific times defined by the administration.
The rule applies not only to smartphones but also to smartwatches, wireless headphones, and tablets. The policy was made to align with the statewide Distraction Free Education Act of 2025, which was co-sponsored by Representative Houston Gaines, a Republican of Athens.
According to the act, by the start of 2026, elementary and middle school students in Georgia will be prohibited from using their personal electronic devices during the school day.
In Oconee County, students who are permitted to use personal devices by an independent education plan are exempt from the rule.
This article comes to Now Habersham in partnership with WUGA News
