Kay Ivey signs bill banning cellphones in Alabama public schools

Gov. Kay Ivey has signed the FOCUS bill into law, effectively banning cellphones and other wireless devices from public schools. 

In an announcement made online Ivey said that cellphones in schools have proven too disruptive to be used by students. 

“In my state of the state address, I repeated the requests of Alabama teachers and parents in calling for a ban on student cell phone use in our schools,” she said. “Smart phones have beneficial roles when used in proper settings."

"However, these often-disruptive devices have no place in our classrooms during the school day except for educational purposes or during an emergency. The FOCUS Act will enable students to ‘focus’ on learning while in school rather than on their phones.”

Additionally, the bill will require local boards of education to adopt internet safety policies for school-owned devices. This was reportedly prompted by the potential risk posed by internet-enabled devices in schools. 

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“As a parent, equipping my children to excel in all aspects of life is priority number one, and what they learn in the classroom plays an immense role in that,” said Rep. Leigh Hulsey, the bill's sponsor.

“The FOCUS Act will limit distractions and provide an avenue for every student in our state to get the absolute most out of their day at school, leading to a stronger Alabama of tomorrow. I am grateful to Governor Ivey for the opportunity to sponsor this important legislation and sincerely appreciate the support of my colleagues in the House and Senate.”

The announcement cited a policy from Pike Road Junior High School that had already banned cellphones, stating that it has helped students academically. 

“Governor Ivey, thank you for your leadership,” said Pike Road Junior High Principal Christy Wright. “The truth is this isn’t just about a law, it’s about what happens when students and teachers are given the space and focus to grow. At the Pike Road Georgia Washington Campus, we implemented a no cell phone policy well before this bill was passed and the results have been powerful."

"We’ve seen a clear shift in our school culture: more engagement, deeper connections, and a greater sense of community. But the impact hasn’t just been social, it’s also academic. I am incredibly proud to share that our eighth-grade learners recently took the PSAT 8/9, and the results came in just yesterday. Not only did our school reach our growth target of a 60-point increase, we exceeded it with a 95-point gain. Even more impressively, our scores are 39 points above the national average. That is an extraordinary accomplishment.”