Washington, D.C. phone-free school law (2026): D.C.'s Disconnect Act of 2025 requires every LEA to prohibit students from possessing personal wireless devices during the full school day. The law became effective Sept 10, 2025 after congressional review; LEA implementation policies must be published
Washington, D.C. has a statewide bell-to-bell phone-free school law in effect. Under DC Law 26-39 — Disconnect Act of 2025 — signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser (signed Act 26-113 after D.C. Council passage) 2025-07-21 — every public school in Washington, D.C. must keep student personal devices off and out of reach for the entire school day. Effective Law effective Sept 10, 2025; LEA policies required by 2026–27 school year, Washington, D.C. now joins the growing majority of U.S. states with a statutory ban on classroom phone use.
What Washington, D.C.'s Phone-Free School Law Requires
- • Statute: DC Law 26-39 (Disconnect Act of 2025), Act 26-113 signed July 21, 2025
- • Scope: bell-to-bell possession prohibition
- • Law effective Sept 10, 2025 after 30-day congressional review
- • LEA compliance deadline: 15 days before start of 2026–27 school year
- • OSSE released model LEA policy by March 1, 2026 statutory deadline
- • DCPS has been phone-free since fall 2025
How Washington, D.C. Schools Comply
Washington, D.C.'s bell-to-bell scope is the strictest model — phones must be inaccessible from the first bell to dismissal, including lunch, passing periods, and study halls. That makes enforcement and documented compliance the hard part, not the policy itself.
Three enforcement models
- • Physical pouches (e.g., Yondr): high per-student cost, daily distribution logistics, and limited compliance data.
- • District storage (lockers, cubbies, classroom caddies): lowest cost but relies on staff to police compliance.
- • Device-level software (LockedIn): OS-level locking, geofencing, and automated compliance reporting — no daily logistics.
Why Washington, D.C. schools choose LockedIn
LockedIn is a software-based phone-free campus solution built for Washington, D.C.'s schools. It provides
OS-level device locking,
campus geofencing, real-time monitoring, and automated compliance reports — exactly what Washington, D.C. administrators need to demonstrate that the policy is being enforced. Unlike physical pouches, there's no hardware to lose, replace, or distribute. See our full
comparison of phone-free campus solutions or the
LockedIn vs Yondr pouches guide.
Verify the law in Washington, D.C.
Read the primary source — DC Law 26-39 — Disconnect Act of 2025 — and confirm the latest guidance with your state agency before adopting policy.
See our complete phone-free school laws by state directory for legislation updates across all 50 states + DC.
Get started
Washington, D.C. schools can be phone-free in less than a day with LockedIn. Use our free phone-free school policy generator to draft a compliant policy, then contact our team to deploy district-wide.