As students prepare to return to the classroom in Jeff Davis County Schools, we are reminding families of the district’s cell phone policy for the 2026-27 school year following new Georgia laws restricting student cell phone use during the school day. While the state has implemented new legislation addressing student cell phone use, Jeff Davis County Schools have already had similar expectations in place, and those policies will continue this school year. “Our goal is a safe, focused learning environment with fewer distractions and more opportunities for student success.”
Phones Should Be Stored Away During the School Day
Under the district’s policy, students are expected to keep cell phones and other electronic communication devices powered off and stored in their book bags throughout the school day.
Phones should not be carried on a student’s person, including in:
- Pockets
- Hoodie pockets
- Waistbands
- Pants or shorts
- Pant legs
- Socks
- Or anywhere else on the body
School officials note that if a phone or even its outline can be seen, it is considered to be in the student’s possession. Students should leave their phones in their backpacks until they leave school at the end of the day.
The policy also applies to:
- Smart watches when connected to a phone or being used for communication
- AirPods and earbuds
- Other electronic communication devices
Students who need to contact a parent or guardian during the school day should report to the school office for assistance.
Cell phone use is also prohibited on school buses.
Progressive Discipline
The district’s policy includes progressive disciplinary consequences for students who violate the rules.
A first offense results in the phone being confiscated and turned in to the school office. A parent or guardian must come to the school to retrieve the device, and it will not be returned directly to the student.
Repeated violations result in increasingly longer confiscation periods:
- Second offense: Phone held for five school days
- Third offense: Phone held for ten school days
- Fourth offense: Phone held for fifteen school days
- Additional offenses: May result in In-School Suspension (ISS), Out-of-School Suspension (OSS), and additional disciplinary action.
Students are also reminded that refusing to surrender a phone to school personnel is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
Working Together for Student Success
District leaders say the purpose of the policy is to create classrooms where students can focus on learning without the distractions that personal electronic devices often create. As the new school year begins, parents are encouraged to review the expectations with their children before the first day of class. By working together, families and schools can help ensure students are ready to learn in a safe, focused, and productive environment.
