Phone-Free Schools in Washington, D.C.: MCPS Cell Phone Policy
Montgomery County Public Schools serves about 160,000 students in Rockville, Maryland. Maryland’s phone-free school law has been in effect since July 1, 2026.
- Location
- Rockville, Maryland
- Montgomery County
- Enrollment
- About 160,000 students
- Washington, D.C. area
Montgomery County Public Schools, the largest school district in Maryland, is a public school district headquartered in Rockville, Maryland (Montgomery County), serving approximately 160,000 students across the Washington, D.C. area. Like every district in Maryland, its cell phone rules are shaped by state law — and by how well the policy is actually enforced on each campus.
Does MCPS ban cell phones?
Yes. Maryland has a statewide phone-free school law (HB 525 / Ch. 596 (2026) — Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act) covering academic school day: first bell to dismissal bell, including instruction, lunch, recess, passing and transition periods. 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 Maryland's phone-free school law, part of our phone-free school laws by state directory.
Enforcing a phone-free day across Washington, D.C.
Maryland'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 MCPS 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 Maryland may also qualify for subsidized access.
Explore other Maryland school districts or browse phone-free school coverage by district.
Frequently asked questions
Does MCPS have a cell phone ban?
Yes. Maryland has a statewide phone-free school law (HB 525 / Ch. 596 (2026) — Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act) covering academic school day: first bell to dismissal bell, including instruction, lunch, recess, passing and transition periods. The district's own rules may go further; check its student handbook.
What is Maryland's school cell phone law?
Maryland's Phone-Free Schools Act requires every county board to ban student device use from first bell to dismissal by the 2027–28 school year. Students must store devices in a manner the county board sets. See our full Maryland guide for the statute, scope, effective date, and exceptions.
How can Rockville-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 MCPS's student handbook for the one it uses.
How much does LockedIn cost for a district like MCPS?
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.