Phone-Free Schools in Tucson: TUSD Cell Phone Policy
Tucson Unified School District serves about 42,000 students in Tucson, Arizona. Arizona’s phone-free school law, HB 2484, has been in effect since September 26, 2025.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
- Pima County
- Enrollment
- About 42,000 students
- Tucson area
Tucson Unified School District is a public school district headquartered in Tucson, Arizona (Pima County), serving approximately 42,000 students across the Tucson area. Like every district in Arizona, its cell phone rules are shaped by state law — and by how well the policy is actually enforced on each campus.
Does TUSD ban cell phones?
Yes. Arizona law (HB 2484 (2025)) requires districts to restrict student personal-device use (school day, defined as time students are at school, including meals, passing periods and recess; policies must limit use), so the district must have a written phone policy.
For the full statute, scope, effective date, and primary sources, see our guide to Arizona's phone-free school law, part of our phone-free school laws by state directory.
Enforcing a phone-free day across Tucson
Arizona leaves the enforcement method to local districts.
Three enforcement models districts choose from
- Physical pouches (e.g., Yondr): a per-student cost that recurs as pouches are lost or damaged, plus daily hand-out and unlocking at every campus.
- District storage (lockers, caddies, classroom bins): low hardware cost, but it relies on staff to police compliance period after period.
- Device-level software (such as LockedIn): locks the phone students already carry during school hours, with no pouches to hand out.
LockedIn, which publishes this page, makes software that locks students' own phones during the school day, with an admin dashboard and no pouches or hardware. Where a state requires phones to be stored away from students, it works alongside that storage rather than replacing it. Compare the options in our phone-free school solutions comparison or the LockedIn vs. Yondr breakdown, and model the math with our pouch-vs-software cost calculator.
What TUSD schools can do next
Draft a policy with our free phone-free school policy generator, or contact our team for a quote. Title I schools in Arizona may also qualify for subsidized access.
Explore other Arizona school districts or browse phone-free school coverage by district.
Frequently asked questions
Does TUSD have a cell phone ban?
Yes. Arizona law (HB 2484 (2025)) requires districts to restrict student personal-device use (school day, defined as time students are at school, including meals, passing periods and recess; policies must limit use), so the district must have a written phone policy.
What is Arizona's school cell phone law?
Arizona requires every school district and charter school to limit student phone use during the school day, including meals and recess. Policies must also restrict social media on school-provided internet. See our full Arizona guide for the statute, scope, effective date, and exceptions.
How can Tucson-area schools enforce a phone-free day?
Schools generally choose physical pouches (like Yondr), district-managed storage, or device-level software like LockedIn that locks the phone students already carry during school hours. Each district picks the method; check TUSD's student handbook for the one it uses.
How much does LockedIn cost for a district like TUSD?
LockedIn is priced per student, per year, and quoted per school or district based on enrollment and rollout — there are no pouches or hardware to buy and no per-unit replacement costs. Contact us for a written quote and a side-by-side comparison against a pouch program. Qualifying Title I schools may receive subsidized or fully covered access.