As a bill banning cell phones in public schools picks up steam on Beacon Hill, parents and advocates against early smartphone use are speaking out in favor as well.

CARLISLE — In what it hopes will be an academics-first step, Carlisle Area School District will implement a classroom cell phone ban at Carlisle High School this year. The new policy — outlined to the school board Thursday night — will take effect with the 2025-26 school year.

Ohio lawmakers have been moving toward banning cell phones for some time. They passed a law in 2024 that required school districts to establish official policies on cell phone usage during school hours by July 2025.