Columbus City Schools Cell Phone Policy, 2026–27

Columbus City Schools phone policy at a glance

Policy

Board Policy 5136.02, Cell Phone Use in Schools (adopted Oct. 7, 2025)

Hours

The whole instructional day, including class changes, recess, meal periods and field trips

Devices

Cell phones and any personal electronic devices that function like cell phones

Storage

Out of sight and in a secure location

Exceptions

Learning uses approved under administrative guidelines; an IEP or 504 plan; active threats and emergencies under the building’s emergency plan; health monitoring with a physician’s written statement

Discipline

Progressive

Last verified Oct. 12, 2026 against the district’s published policy and the state law it cites. Sources are listed at the end of this page.

What Policy 5136.02 says

“In compliance with R.C. 3313.753, students are prohibited from using cell phones or any personal electronic devices that function like cell phones at all times during the instructional day.” The policy adopts the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s definition of the instructional day: any time a student is expected to attend, including formal instruction and supervised activities such as transitions between classes, recess, meal periods and field trips.

Phones must stay out of sight in a secure location unless an exception applies. Students may use phones for learning when the board deems it appropriate and the superintendent’s guidelines identify it, for a purpose in an IEP or Section 504 plan, during an active threat or emergency under the building’s emergency management plan, and to monitor or address a health concern when the district has a physician’s written statement. Violations bring progressive discipline.

How it fits Ohio law

Ohio’s R.C. 3313.753, as amended by the state’s 2025 budget bill (HB 96), required every district board to adopt by Jan. 1, 2026 a policy that prohibits all student cell phone use during the instructional day and to post it on the district website. The board must allow use to monitor or address a health concern when it receives a physician’s written statement, and may allow learning uses or uses in an IEP or 504 plan. Columbus adopted Policy 5136.02 on Oct. 7, 2025.

More detail is in our guide to Ohio’s school phone law and the phone-free school laws by state directory.