Starting March 3, the Howard County school system will ban cellphone use by students during the school day. But how will the new policy work?

It means that from the moment the first school bell rings until the final bell, students of all grades will not, for the most part, be allowed to even glance at their mobile phones or other personal technology devices. In fact, all students’ phones will need to be packed away and silenced under changes approved by the Board of Education’s 7-1 vote on Jan. 30.

High schoolers may feel the effects most profoundly. Currently they can use their cellphones in the hallways, during lunch and in the classroom when a teacher gives the go-ahead.

In a community message Tuesday, Howard County Public Schools Superintendent Bill Barnes acknowledged that not all students will welcome the changes.

“I know the revised policy is unpopular with many students, and that adjusting to it may be challenging,” he said. “Nonetheless, I have full confidence that students will adjust and benefit from fewer distractions in school.”

Barnes cited research showing the negative impact of personal devices on mental health and learning. He also said similar restrictions in districts around the state and nationally “have yielded overwhelming benefits, including improved focus and participation in class, higher grades, increased test scores, improved well-being, greater levels of interpersonal socialization, and better attendance at school and school activities.”

While most of the debate has been about cellphones, the revised policy changes also cover personal laptops, tablets, e-readers, wearable technology and more.

Here are five things to know about the coming ban:

Who can take away a student’s phone?

While some teachers say they have had to seize cellphones from students during class, school system officials say the role has officially fallen to “authorized searchers” since 2014.

Many teachers have complained that confiscating phones is time-consuming and disruptive. The revised policy tasks authorized searchers with seizing a student’s phone if it’s seen, heard or causing a distraction during the school day.

Authorized searchers include principals, assistant principals, security assistants or designated teachers on a school field trip.

What are the penalties for violations?

The first time a student is caught with their phone out, it will be confiscated until the end of the school day. Students need to turn off or lock their phones before they turn them in.

If a student’s phone is taken during a day’s final period, it will be returned after class but confiscated the following school day.

On a second or repeat offense, a student’s phone will not be given back to them until their parent or guardian picks it up from school.

School administrators will allow for student phone use when it’s permitted in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), Section 504 plan or health plan. They will face different consequences for violations.

The first infraction will result in a call to the student’s home. Subsequent incidents will require a conference between a parent/guardian and school administrator and further intervention per the Student Code of Conduct.

What about smart watches?

Students don’t have to go cold turkey with all their personal devices.

Smart watches such as Apple Watches are safe for the time being. Students can continue wearing them but only to check the time.

The watches cannot become a distraction in the classroom or be used for anything beyond checking the time.

Also, high schoolers will be able to use personal laptops, but only for instructional activities. No personal emails or text messages.

Really, no phones all day?

Short answer: yes. Including during lunch and in the hallways.

However, there are a few exceptions.

On school field trips, students may be allowed to use their phones to take pictures, record video, or get in contact with their parent or guardian when necessary as long as it is permitted by a staff member.

In a school emergency, administrators may allow students to use cellphones to contact parents or guardians.

Could the policy be changed again?

For some Howard County parents and students, news of the cellphone ban may seem like it came out of nowhere. But school leaders have been discussing what to do about mobile phones in classrooms for months.

Last year, Howard County Public Schools joined a local and national movement to crack down on students’ cellphone use in the classroom. The school system formed a work group, sent out a survey, and held public meetings and hearings.

The school board even delayed a vote on this issue in November, pushing back on aspects of the work group’s recommendations. The board’s Jan. 30 vote occurred after its policy committee tweaked the recommendations.

School officials did not immediately implement the new rules to give themselves time to prepare students, school staff and families for the changes.

Between March 3 and the last day of school, the school system will collect data to evaluate the policy changes and determine whether any changes need to be made ahead of the 2025-26 school year.

This story has been corrected to clarify that teachers are not officially authorized to confiscate cellphones from students, and that Howard County Public Schools have tasked “authorized searchers” (such as principals) with this role since 2014.