Mayzie Olson
•8/11/2026
LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — There are a number of electronic device use policies that parents and students need to be aware of for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year, as many vary from school to school as well as district to district.
A Florida law that went into effect in 2025 required school districts to implement stricter cell phone policies in schools to boost student learning and their overall wellbeing.
In Lee County schools, there is a district-wide "bell-to-bell" ban, meaning students must have electronic devices zipped up in their backpacks at all times until school is out for the day.
That includes cell phones and/or auxiliary/acillary devices, like watches, earbuds or smart classes. Device use can be used to monitor a health condition that is documented through medical records if allowed by school staff.
As of 2023, there are several prohibited applications including TikTok, WeChat, Vkontakte and Kaspersky.
According to one of the Lee County school board members, a survey done by the district back in 2025 found that 85% of parents supported new cell phone rules.
Any parents that need to get a hold of their children are encouraged to call the school directly. In case of emergencies, students are able to use phones when needed.
It's a similar story in Hendry County, as students are allowed to bring their phones on school grounds, however they must be turned off and stored in a designated area away from their person at the elementary and middle school level.
Hendry County high schoolers are allowed to use their electronic devices if directly advised by a teacher during class or at administrative discretion during the lunch period.
In Desoto County, phones are also not allowed at all during the school day. If one is used, the student code of conduct handbook states that school staff are allowed to confiscate the device in question.
In Glades County, during the school day, all phones must be turned off and put away the moment the school day begins, but it could vary by school, according to its code of conduct.
Students and parents are told to look in their student handbook at their specific school for guidance.
Over in Charlotte County, the rules are a little more lenient. Elementary and middle schoolers are not allowed to use devices at all during the day with bell-to-bell rules.
High school students are not allowed to use devices during the class period and cannot access social media platforms. However, high schoolers are allowed to use devices during lunch and while in between classes.
In Collier County, students are allowed to bring devices to school, but all elementary and middle schoolers must keep them off and away during the day. High schoolers are allowed to use phones in between classes and at lunch, as long as they aren't used during class time.
Some individual school electronic device rules may vary, so families are encouraged to seek further guidance from school handbooks for the upcoming year.
