Savannah Arts Academy students petition Georgia phone ban, cite safety concerns

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -More than 200 students, parents, and community members have signed a petition against Georgia’s Distraction-Free Education Act and the Savannah Chatham County Public School District’s plan to comply with it.

Two students at Savannah Arts Academy organized the petition, saying they want to bring attention to a law and school rule they believe is unfair and unsafe.

The law and district response

Georgia’s Distraction-Free Education Act prohibits public school students from accessing personal electronic devices during the school day, with exceptions for medical needs. The law takes effect for grades K–8 at the start of the 2026 school year and for grades 9–12 at the start of the 2027 school year.

The Savannah Chatham County Public School District said it anticipated the law expanding to high schoolers and was prepared to implement changes across every school. The district is using district-provided storage solutions, including locked pouches for items such as cell phones.

In a statement, the district said: “Because of the nature of student movement at the high school level, the use of the pouches was deemed most responsive to ensure quick access for students transitioning to after school activities, leaving the campus for work based learning or dual enrollment classes. Although students will retain possession of their cell phones, the devices will remain powered off and secured in locked pouches throughout the school day.”

Their full statement can be found here.

In 2025, the Georgia General Assembly passed the “Distraction-Free Education Act” (O.C.G.A. § 20-2324.8) that prohibits the use of personal electronic devices during the school day (bell to bell) for grades K-8. In 2026, the Georgia General Assembly expanded the law to include grades 9-12. In alignment with guidance from the Georgia Department of Education that’s states “The purpose of the law is to promote a positive learning environment free from electronic distractions. The school day is a critical time for students to concentrate, learn, engage with peers, build a sense of community, and connect with their teachers. Creating a school environment free from cell phones and other electronic devices restores valuable opportunities for academic growth and social development,” SCCPSS is implementing the law for all students beginning this school year.

 

HB1009, that extended the Distraction Free Kids act to 9-12 Grades, is required to be implemented in all Georgia Schools no later than July 1, 2027.  The District anticipated this move and was poised for the required changes based on previous action for K-8 grades and Board policy updates that prohibited personal devices for students beginning on the 2026-2027 school year and found it most beneficial to make the adjustment now rather than waiting.

 

The law also makes clear that each local school system shall adopt procedures for storing students’ personal electronic devices, including, but not limited to, a student’s locker, a locked pouch, or a designated place in the classroom.

 

Because of the nature of student movement at the high school level, the use of the pouches was deemed most responsive to ensure quick access for students transitioning to after school activities, leaving the campus for work based learning or dual enrollment classes. Although students will retain possession of their cell phones, the devices will remain powered off and secured in locked pouches throughout the school day. This approach establishes a clear and consistent expectation that allows teachers to focus more fully on instruction and students to engage more meaningfully with their teachers and peers. It also creates greater opportunities for face-to-face interaction during lunch and transitions between classes. By making devices inaccessible from bell to bell, the district can reduce distractions and minimize recurring conflicts between students and staff regarding when devices must be put away, powered off, or may be used. 

Savannah Chatham County Public School District

The Georgia Department of Education requires schools to establish emergency communication protocols under the act. Those protocols require parents or guardians who need to reach a student during the school day to contact the school directly, and direct that all emergency communication be facilitated through school emergency communication management systems coordinated by school personnel.

Students’ concerns

Student and petition organizer Lillian Cates said access to phones is a safety issue.

“If something were to happen, like you were saying earlier, we would need access to our phones to contact our parents, to contact people outside of our school building,” Cates said.

Student Ziva Devine said the locked pouch policy raises concerns in emergency situations.

“You think the teachers are going to be unlocking the phones while there’s a school shooter in the building? You think they’re going to take the time to do that?” Devine said.

Devine also said that it took her explaining to her parents how much they use their phones to understand her perspective.

“When you can show parents that their lives revolve around their phones so much, when you can show them how their lives need their phones so much, then they kind of start to see your point of view,” Devine said.

Petition goals

The students said they are not opposed to a phone-free learning environment but want to feel safe enough in schools before direct communication is removed from their hands. They also said the rule should be used as a consequence rather than a starting point for all students.

Cates said surrounding counties have allowed students to keep phones powered off in their backpacks.

“It is giving students the right to be responsible, which we are high school students,” Cates said.

Cates and Devine also questioned why high school students are subject to the same rules as younger students.

“Why are we having the same laws as a kindergartener, when we are almost a decade older than them,” the students said.

Cates said the long-term goal is a compromise.

“The goal is to get to a point where we feel safe enough that we can abide in a phone-free environment,” Cates said.

The students said they plan to expand their petition efforts statewide so that rules in place for them can also reflect their own concerns.

Further information on Savannah Chatham County School districts plan to be in compliance with Georgia’s Distraction-Free Education Act.