House Bill 96

Requirements for School Cell Phone Policies

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Ohio law requires each school district, community school, and STEM school to adopt a policy prohibiting cell phone use by students during the instructional day by Jan. 1, 2026. An “instructional day” is any period of time in which a student is expected to be in attendance and includes not only formal instruction time but also supervised activities, such as transitioning between classes, recess, meal periods, and field trips. 

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In accordance to law, Symmes Valley Local Schools added new verbiage in the Student Handbook during the summer of 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year.

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Additionally, as directed by the law - effective January 1st, 2026 - WiFi availability and functionality was adjusted to ensure our district is in compliance with the law.