North Carolina phone-free school law (2026): North Carolina prohibits using or displaying wireless devices during instructional time, with statutory exceptions and local policy authority. Here's what administrators need to know about compliance, scope, and enforcement.
North Carolina has enacted a statewide phone-free school law. Under HB 959 (2025) — signed by Gov. Josh Stein 2025-07-01 — every district must adopt a policy restricting student personal-device use during instructional time. The law takes effect 2025–26 school year, and many North Carolina districts are choosing to extend their policies bell-to-bell.
What North Carolina's Phone-Free School Law Requires
- • Statute: HB 959, signed July 1, 2025
- • Scope: prohibited use or display during instructional time
- • Devices must be turned off
- • Statutory IEP/504 and medical exceptions
- • Effective: 2025–26 school year
How North Carolina Schools Comply
North Carolina's law gives districts flexibility on how to enforce. The schools that succeed pair a written policy with an enforcement mechanism that doesn't put the burden on teachers — and that produces compliance data when the state asks for it.
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 North Carolina schools choose LockedIn
LockedIn is a software-based phone-free campus solution built for North Carolina's schools. It provides
OS-level device locking,
campus geofencing, real-time monitoring, and automated compliance reports — exactly what North Carolina 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 North Carolina
Read the primary source — HB 959 (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
North Carolina 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.