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Photo Credit: Education Week

Georgia lawmakers are considering extending a statewide ban on student personal devices to high schools, meaning today’s sophomores could face phone-free school days by their senior year. A ban covering kindergarten through middle school is already set to take effect next fall after passage last year, and the bill’s sponsor now wants to expand that policy to older students beginning in fall 2027.

Representative Scott Hilton of Peachtree Corners says House Bill 1009 is expected to receive its first hearing in the coming weeks. New survey results show strong support for expanding the ban: a poll from Georgia’s largest teacher association found more than two-thirds of educators favor the idea, with high school teachers even more supportive, and an Emory Center for Child Health Policy survey found a large majority of parents want the K–8 ban extended to high school.

Still, not everyone agrees. Some parents who oppose a high school ban say their biggest concern is being unable to reach their child during an emergency, while others argue phones can be a dangerous distraction during crisis response. State leaders say the debate is likely to be active this session, as lawmakers weigh classroom disruption and mental health concerns against safety communications and logistics for after-school activities.