JHop officials say policy restricting the use of cell phones in public schools is in full effect and the majority of students are complying.

A state law went into effect May 2025 that prohibits cells phones from being out or on at all during school hours. Scholars have to keep them in their bag to prevent distractions and mitigating cyberbullying.

As of August 2025, Florida is now one of 35 states that have passed laws or implemented policies restricting phone use in schools.

Ms. Scott says since the start of the school year, she has confiscated about 20 phones.

“I will say that every student I confiscated a phone from, they were very reflective, they didn’t give me pushback from taking their phone, and they received it back at the end of the day,” she said.

Scott said teachers are allowed to use their phone for emergency reasons only.

Scott said she thinks that the new phone policy allows students to focus more on academics.

Some students feel differently.

Eighth-grader Avery Dupuy said she thinks the policy is “restricting” and limits students’ options to communicate with their parents.