Phone-Free Schools in Cleveland: CMSD Cell Phone Policy
Cleveland Metropolitan School District serves about 37,000 students in Cleveland, Ohio. Ohio’s phone-free school law, HB 96, required every district to have a policy by January 1, 2026.
- Location
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Cuyahoga County
- Enrollment
- About 37,000 students
- Cleveland area
Cleveland Metropolitan School District is a public school district headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio (Cuyahoga County), serving approximately 37,000 students across the Cleveland area. Like every district in Ohio, its cell phone rules are shaped by state law — and by how well the policy is actually enforced on each campus.
Does CMSD ban cell phones?
Yes. Ohio has a statewide phone-free school law (HB 96 (2025), the state operating budget) covering policies must prohibit all student cellphone use during the "instructional day", a term the statute does not define; boards may also ban carrying devices on school grounds. 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 Ohio's phone-free school law, part of our phone-free school laws by state directory.
Enforcing a phone-free day across Cleveland
Ohio'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 CMSD 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 Ohio may also qualify for subsidized access.
Explore other Ohio school districts or browse phone-free school coverage by district.
Frequently asked questions
Does CMSD have a cell phone ban?
Yes. Ohio has a statewide phone-free school law (HB 96 (2025), the state operating budget) covering policies must prohibit all student cellphone use during the "instructional day", a term the statute does not define; boards may also ban carrying devices on school grounds. The district's own rules may go further; check its student handbook.
What is Ohio's school cell phone law?
Ohio requires every school district to prohibit all student cellphone use during the instructional day (R.C. 3313.753, as amended by HB 96 in 2025). Policies were due Jan. 1, 2026. See our full Ohio guide for the statute, scope, effective date, and exceptions.
How can Cleveland-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 CMSD's student handbook for the one it uses.
How much does LockedIn cost for a district like CMSD?
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.