South Carolina students to be prohibited from using cell phones

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AIKEN, S.C. ()- South Carolina students will head back to the classroom next week with in person class starting on January 7th for most of the schools in our viewing area.

But those students will have a big change when they return to school- a ban on cell phone use during the school day.

That means kids cannot have their phones out at all during the school day and they have to be powered off. That includes during lunch or any other free time beginning with the morning tardy bell and ending with dismissal. It could even apply to the time students are on the bus.

The policy bans the use of all personal electronic devices which includes phones and any accessories like smart watches, bluetooth headphones or earbuds, gaming devices and tablets.

There are exceptions for medical reasons with a 504 plan and students who are volunteer firefighters or work for an emergency organization. Consequences for violators are strict but vary.

“Each and every incident will be treated individually. It depends on the circumstance. And so, for the first consequence, up to ISS, that first time. If we have some other interventions that are in place that the principle deems that are more effective for this child and that can be applied as well. Second time it’s still a phone violation so it’s up to multiple days of ISS. And the third time you could potentially be suspended out of school,” explained Dr. Corey Murphy, the Aiken County Public School District’s Superintendent.

It’s all part of a state board of education policy approved back in September 2024.

Consequences begin with up to three days of in school suspension, out of school suspension, and confiscation of the devices.

School leaders believe banning the use of cell phones during school hours will be beneficial to kids in the long run.

“We can see it ourselves. The kids are kind of preoccupied and if I can use the word ‘obsessed’ sometimes they’re keeping current on whatever’s going on in the world, to the point where they can’t focus on the lesson at hand. And so we really hope that this helps with that endeavor,” explained Dr. Murphy.

Many students and parents are upset that cell phone use isn’t allowed during free time, but some educators say that it forces students to socialize or pick up a book to read. They think it will reduce cyber bullying, in school fights and other behavioral issues. They believe unplugging completely during the school day will be better for kids.

Dr. Murphy asks parents to help the school district enforce the new policy, saying this is coming down from the state and it could affect funding if they don’t comply.

The links to the full policy guidelines for each South Carolina school district are as follows.