As the first day of school approaches, Jefferson County Public Schools is gearing up for a complete cellphone ban districtwide.
The Jefferson County Board of Education approved the ban in May to comply with a new state law that requires districts to adopt policies prohibiting cellphone usage during instructional time and restricting students from accessing social media platforms on school devices.
JCPS’ policy goes a step further than what the law requires, banning devices throughout the day, including in halls and the cafeteria.
Carolyn Callahan, chief communications and community relations officer for JCPS, told The Courier Journal the board found it necessary to tighten the protocol for a variety of reasons. She added that implementation of the policy is fluid as schools go through this transitional period.
Here’s what to know going into the school year.
Why is JCPS implementing a complete cellphone ban?
School board members decided to implement a complete ban in an effort to improve academic achievement and keep students safe. By cutting back on cellphone usage in hallways, lunchrooms and classrooms, the board wanted there to be less distractions for students, Callahan said.
“We need our kids to be focused on our teachers and getting as much education as they can out of those hours that we have them in our school,” Callahan added.
In their meetings, Callahan said the board also mentioned a desire to cut back on cyberbullying that might take place online during school.
“We know that cellphone use in the halls — a lot of times — fights and disruptions are goaded and are created for content,” board member Gail Strange said at an April meeting.
Fern Creek High School decided to enact a complete ban last year for a similar reason, “and it worked wonderfully for them,” Callahan said.
Since enacting its ban in fall 2024, the school has seen students fostering more social connections and even pick up record high numbers of books from the library, according to previous Courier Journal reporting.
JCPS has told schools they should look to Fern Creek for guidance on how to implement the full ban, Callahan said.
How will JCPS’ cellphone ban be enforced?
Schools will enact their own cellphone policies depending on what best suits their needs. Parents and students are advised to look out for communications coming from their own school about rules surrounding cellphones.
“Principals and school leaders know their school population better than anyone,” Callahan said. “They’re going to be able to work together to determine what will work best for them, and I’m sure that there are going to be tweaks throughout the school year as we get going on this.”
Valley High School has already posted a flyer that details its plan going into the new school year. It reads: “Between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., Valley High School is a Phone-free Zone.”
After specifying that the state law applies to all devices, the flyer lists a number of banned electronics including cellphones, smartwatches and headphones, among others. The school only allows students to use devices provided by the school.
Graduates made their way into the Valley gymnasium as the Valley High School class of 2025 held their commencement on Friday, May 23, 2025.
At Fern Creek High, administrators have taken a more hands-on approach and opted to invest in locking pouches for their students to put their phones in, helping them resist temptation.
At a board meeting, Chair Corrie Shull said schools could also require students to keep phones in their backpacks, ensuring accessibility during emergencies.
If a JCPS student causes a classroom disruption by using their phone, the district’s Student Support and Behavior Intervention Handbook states the goal is to correct the behavior while limiting time missed from class. Repeated cellphone use could lead to a parent-teacher conference or conference with a school counselor or administrator.
The handbook adds administrators have the right to confiscate a phone when a student breaks the rule. In that situation, “the phone will be returned at the conclusion of the investigation.”
Consequences for violating the ban will be different at each school, with schools defining the “progressive consequences for each offense,” according to the handbook.
What can JCPS parents do if they want to contact their children at school?
Callahan said all JCPS schools should have protocols in place for parents to promptly reach their children while at school, even without access to a cellphone.
“Our front office staff will be ready to support and get whatever important messages that you need to your students,” Callahan said.
If parents or students have any other questions about the new policy, they should not hesitate to reach out to their school for more information. Schools should be posting more details in advance of the first day of school on Aug. 7.
Reporter Krista Johnson contributed. Ruby Grisin is a reporter for The Courier Journal. You can reach her at rgrisin@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: What to know about JCPS’ new cellphone ban