(The Center Square) – For some North Carolina students and school districts, there could be no change. For others, it’ll be “bye bye” to the cellphones.

Access to cellphones and wireless devices is within new legislation that is law for the state’s public schools. Policies and their implementation are to be enacted by Jan. 1.

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For most within the state’s 115 districts, the 2025-26 school year begins on or about Aug. 25. And some already have in place the restrictions outlined in Various Education Changes, known also as House Bill 959.

“When teachers don’t have to compete with cellphones for student attention, real learning happens,” said first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. “This bipartisan bill gives students a distraction-free learning environment so they can focus on their education, and it provides a seven-hour mental break from the unrelenting pressures of phones and social media.”

There are exceptions such as management of a student’s health care, or compliance with educational programming. Emergencies are also covered in the new law.

The language says it promotes internet safety by requiring social media literacy instructions in schools beginning before students reach middle school. A standard course of study is to be offered once in elementary school, once in middle school and twice during high school years.

The eight points of emphasis are mental health; misinformation; manipulating behavior; permanency of shared information; personal security; bullying, predatory behavior and human trafficking; suspicious behavior; and personal and interpersonal skills or character education “that enhances individual level protective factors and mitigates or reduces risk-taking or harmful behavior.”

NORTH CAROLINA’S CELLPHONE-FREE SCHOOL BILL IS A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE NATION

Another part of the bill changed wording related to teacher residency licenses.

Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, was the lone vote of 46 against the measure in the upper chamber. Final passage was 111-0 in the House of Representatives.