The policies are required as a part of a state law that takes effect July 1, 2025.
Published: Jun. 17, 2025 at 5:31 PM CDT
A new law taking effect July 1 is tackling an obstacle that educators hope will improve a student’s classroom and school experience.
Here are the requirements for TN school districts when it comes to cell phones
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WSMV) – A new law taking effect July 1 is tackling an obstacle that educators hope will improve a student’s classroom and school experience.
HB932/SB897 hones in on cell phone usage during school instruction, requiring school districts across the state to create a policy that reflects certain requirements under state law.
The main piece of the legislation says that cell phones aren’t to be used during classroom instruction, unless it’s under certain circumstances.
“How’s it affecting our students?” Patrick Basnett asked. “How’s it affecting their quality of education? How’s it affecting the environment in the classroom?”
Basnett works with Professional Educators for Tennessee, and says the bill has been in the works for over three years now.
Research from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that 53% of school leaders reported a negative impact on students stemming from cell phone usage.
This was not limited to just academic performance, but also to their overall mental health.
Williamson County Schools created their policy for this upcoming school year at a board meeting Monday night, which allows for wireless communication device use if they’re on silent mode and not used during the school day.
For high schoolers, they’re allowed to use them during their lunch period as well.
“The cell phone for my daughter, who’s 12 years old, is more of a kind of prevention if something were to happen that I always have contact with her,” John Petruska said. “No telling what could happen in school. Something happened in Nashville, and I would much rather have my daughter have that phone on her, even if she’s not using it or not, that I as a parent can tell or be able to get feedback from her if anything were to ever happen.”
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) told WSMV4 that they’re working on examining their current cell phone policy to see if any adjustments need to be made to accommodate the state law.
Wilson County Schools and Rutherford County Schools had not responded to us about their policy at the time of publication.
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