In a report this week, Governor Stein's Advisory Council for Student Safety & Well-Being detailed the success of banning cell phones in classrooms in several North Carolina school districts. Governor Stein expressed that these measures improve students' academic and social well-being, citing "improved academic outcomes, increased social interactions and engagement, and fewer discipline concerns," after banning phones during class time, according to the Governor's Office press release.
Coming ahead of a new law set to mandate statewide restrictions on personal communication devices during instructional time in January 2026, North Carolina schools are already witnessing the policy's benefits. "We’ve seen real urgency from school leaders to implement these new policies, even before January when they’re legally required to," Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch, co-chair of the Advisory Council, told the Governor's Office. In June, the Advisory Council published a handbook, prior to Session Law 2025-38, to guide school systems in policy implementation.
The handbook, titled Best Practices Guide for North Carolina Public Schools Units (PSUs) Establishing Personal Communication Device Policies, was a top priority for Governor Stein, who sees it as a tool to aid schools in creating environments conducive to learning. Highlighting the collaboration across the state, every public school has a plan to manage cell phone use, with many adjusting their policies in response to upcoming legislation. These steps are part of broader efforts to make schools safe and inclusive as described in Executive Order 13, which established the Advisory Council.
The Council's mission is expansive, seeking to promote school safety and improved student well-being in physical, social, and emotional facets. Its leadership team, comprising Batch, William Lassiter, Deputy Secretary of the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and Heather Smith, the 2024 North Carolina Teacher of the Year from Haywood County, is already sharing best practices with local communities, according to the official report. The Council works closely, with both state agencies and local school units to enhance overall student safety and well-being through policy and recommendation development.
