Many schools already began implementing policies around cellphones last year, but this year is the first that districts have been mandated to have one.

Kentucky is one of 17 states and the District of Columbia starting this school year with new restrictions, bringing the total to 35 states with laws or rules limiting phones and other electronic devices in school. This change has come remarkably quickly: Florida became the first state to pass such a law in 2023.

A new UW study surveyed thousands of students, along with teachers and parents statewide, to gauge their response to classroom cellphone polices.