North Carolina School Cell Phone Law (HB 959): What It Requires

Yes. North Carolina has a statewide law on student phones in school. North Carolina requires every public school unit to bar student phone use during instructional time (Session Law 2025-38). Policies were due Jan. 1, 2026. HB 959 was signed by Gov. Josh Stein on July 1, 2025.

What HB 959 requires

• • The governing body of each public school unit establishes a wireless communication policy that, at minimum, prohibits students from using, displaying or having a wireless device turned on during instructional time (due Jan. 1, 2026).
• • The policy must allow use authorized by a teacher for educational purposes or emergencies, use required by an IEP or Section 504 plan, and use needed to manage health care for a documented medical condition.
• • The governing body sets consequences, which may include confiscation and discipline under the Code of Student Conduct.
• • Each unit sends its policy to DPI, and again whenever it changes; DPI reports compliant and non-compliant units by name each Oct. 1.
• • Local boards also adopt an internet-safety policy that blocks student access to social media on school devices and internet service, except when a teacher directs it for education.

The emergency wording for every state, D.C. and Puerto Rico is in school phone ban emergency exceptions by state.

The key provision, verbatim

“prohibit students from using, displaying, or having a wireless communication device turned on during instructional time”

Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-76.100(b) (Session Law 2025-38)

Timeline

1. June 26, 2025HB 959 ratified by the General Assembly
2. July 1, 2025Signed by Gov. Josh Stein (Session Law 2025-38); takes effect
3. September 1, 2025Each public school unit sends its wireless communication policy to DPI
4. October 1, 2025First DPI compliance report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee
5. January 1, 2026Wireless communication and internet-safety policies due
6. April 29, 2026S 913 (Screen Free Schools) filed: it would bar device use at any time on school premises for K–8 and at any point in the school day for grades 9–12. Re-referred to Appropriations on April 30, 2026, with no further action
7. October 1, 2026Annual DPI report naming non-compliant units due

Where phones must be kept

The statute requires devices to be off and unused during instructional time but does not set a storage method.

Some schools back a written policy with phone-management software such as LockedIn: students' own phones lock automatically on campus during school hours and unlock after school, with no pouches or hardware; the admin dashboard flags workarounds by student name, such as a possible uninstall or a new device awaiting approval; and in an emergency, one tap from an administrator starts Emergency Mode on every phone on campus. Software does not replace the policy HB 959 requires, and it should be set up around the exceptions the law lists; have counsel review any tool that handles student device data.

Checklist for North Carolina administrators

1. Confirm your policy was adopted by Jan. 1, 2026 and a copy is on file with DPI.
2. Send DPI an updated copy whenever the policy changes; DPI names non-compliant units each Oct. 1.
3. Check the policy covers laptops, tablets and gaming devices, not just phones.
4. Write down how teachers may authorize educational or emergency use.
5. Plan the social media and mental health instruction that begins in 2026–27.

How North Carolina districts are carrying it out

The law sets the floor; each district writes its own policy on top of it. Here is what large North Carolina districts have adopted, from their own published policies:

• • Wake County Public School System: Policy 4318: phones off and away bell to bell in elementary and middle school, and during instructional time in high school.
• • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: Devices must be off and put away during instructional time at every CMS school; each school defines what “off and away” means.