Phone-Free Schools in Tampa Bay: HCPS Cell Phone Policy
Hillsborough County Public Schools serves about 224,000 students in Tampa, Florida. Florida’s phone-free school law, HB 379, has been in effect since July 1, 2025.
- Location
- Tampa, Florida
- Hillsborough County
- Enrollment
- About 224,000 students
- Tampa Bay area
Hillsborough County Public Schools is a public school district headquartered in Tampa, Florida (Hillsborough County), serving approximately 224,000 students across the Tampa Bay area. Like every district in Florida, its cell phone rules are shaped by state law — and by how well the policy is actually enforced on each campus.
Does HCPS ban cell phones?
Yes. Florida has a statewide phone-free school law (HB 379 (2023) and HB 1105 (2025)) covering elementary and middle school: no use during the school day. High school: no use during instructional time unless a teacher directs it for educational purposes. Students may still possess phones.. The district's own rules may go further; check its student handbook.
For the full statute, scope, effective date, and primary sources, see our guide to Florida's phone-free school law, part of our phone-free school laws by state directory.
Enforcing a phone-free day across Tampa Bay
Florida's law sets the rule; how phones are stored and how violations are handled is largely left to each district.
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 HCPS 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 Florida may also qualify for subsidized access.
Explore other Florida school districts or browse phone-free school coverage by district.
Frequently asked questions
Does HCPS have a cell phone ban?
Yes. Florida has a statewide phone-free school law (HB 379 (2023) and HB 1105 (2025)) covering elementary and middle school: no use during the school day. High school: no use during instructional time unless a teacher directs it for educational purposes. Students may still possess phones.. The district's own rules may go further; check its student handbook.
What is Florida's school cell phone law?
Florida bars elementary and middle school students from using phones during the school day and high school students during class time (s. 1006.07, F.S., as amended by HB 1105 in 2025). Students may still possess phones; districts set the rest. See our full Florida guide for the statute, scope, effective date, and exceptions.
How can Tampa-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 HCPS's student handbook for the one it uses.
How much does LockedIn cost for a district like HCPS?
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.