DAYTON, Ohio-Several Dayton-area school districts, including Beavercreek, Centerville, and Kettering, have implemented stricter policies on personal communication devices, such as cellphones, to improve classroom learning environments. These districts are introducing escalating penalties for repeat offenders, with measures including device confiscation, in-school suspensions, and required parent retrieval of devices after multiple violations. In contrast, Oakwood and Springboro are delaying their policies until a new Ohio law takes effect in 2025, which requires schools to have a policy on personal devices. Dayton Public Schools, which previously used Yondr pouches to contain phones, is shifting to an “envelope” system where phones are collected at the start of the day and returned at the end. Schools will accommodate students with documented needs for their phones, such as medical monitoring.
