Phone-Free Schools in Boston: BPS Cell Phone Policy
Boston Public Schools serves about 49,000 students in Boston, Massachusetts. Massachusetts has a phone-free school bill pending, so the school board sets the rules for now.
- Location
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Suffolk County
- Enrollment
- About 49,000 students
- Boston area
Boston Public Schools is a public school district headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts (Suffolk County), serving approximately 49,000 students across the Boston area. Like every district in Massachusetts, its cell phone rules are shaped by state law — and by how well the policy is actually enforced on each campus.
Does BPS ban cell phones?
Not yet statewide — but S.2581 (Senate-passed 38–2, July 31, 2025; House-amended 129–25, April 8, 2026; in conference committee) is moving through the Massachusetts legislature and would require it. In the meantime the district sets its own policy, and most districts its size already restrict phones.
For the full statute, scope, effective date, and primary sources, see our guide to Massachusetts's phone-free school bill, part of our phone-free school laws by state directory.
Enforcing a phone-free day across Boston
Districts that adopt enforcement before a statewide mandate lands avoid scrambling later — and help shape what compliance looks like in Massachusetts.
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 BPS 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 Massachusetts may also qualify for subsidized access.
Explore other Massachusetts school districts or browse phone-free school coverage by district.
Frequently asked questions
Does BPS have a cell phone ban?
Not yet statewide — but S.2581 (Senate-passed 38–2, July 31, 2025; House-amended 129–25, April 8, 2026; in conference committee) is moving through the Massachusetts legislature and would require it. In the meantime the district sets its own policy, and most districts its size already restrict phones.
What is Massachusetts's school cell phone law?
Massachusetts has no statewide school phone law yet. The Senate passed a bell-to-bell bill (S.2581) in July 2025 and the House passed a broader version in April 2026; the two chambers have been in a conference committee since May 2026. See our full Massachusetts guide for the statute, scope, effective date, and exceptions.
How can Boston-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 BPS's student handbook for the one it uses.
How much does LockedIn cost for a district like BPS?
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.