OKCPS Board Waives Notice Requirement and Adopts Bell‑to‑Bell Cell‑Phone Policy Required by SB139

Oklahoma City Public Schools on Tuesday waived the district’s regular notice period and adopted revisions to board policy F‑25 to comply with a new state law — commonly called the bell‑to‑bell cell‑phone restriction — that bans student cell‑phone use during instructional periods for the 2025–26 school year.

The board first voted to waive the required one‑month information appearance so the district could implement the new law in time for the school year; officials said that failing to waive the process could cause the district to miss opportunities for state funding. District staff reported the waiver vote carried 6–0. The board then voted to approve the revised F‑25 policy; the approval passed 5–1, with one board member recording a nay vote.

District staff and legal counsel told the board the state law (referred to in the meeting as SB139) requires each school to have a policy restricting cell‑phone use “from the first bell at the start of the school day to the bell marking the end of the school day.” The law, as presented to the board, leaves the board authority to review and modify the policy after the first year. As one staff member summarized, for this first year the requirement is “bell to bell” and after the initial year the board may consider local adjustments.

Under the approved policy and the state mandate, students may keep phones on their person but may not use them during instructional periods, including passing periods and lunch if those minutes fall inside the first and last instructional bells. District staff noted limited exceptions for emergencies and authorized, school‑sanctioned instructional uses. The law also requires that a violation carry some form of discipline; district staff said the existing student‑discipline policy will govern enforcement and that the district is working with principals to ensure consistent application across schools.

Board members and staff discussed implementation details and equity concerns. Board member Mike Shelton asked how the district will ensure uniform enforcement across schools; staff said discipline will follow existing policy and that the district’s secondary leadership will coordinate principals, general counsel and building‑level practices. One board member requested interim reports from the district: staff agreed to provide an update at the end of the first semester and another by spring break so the board will have data in time to consider modifications after year one.

District staff also addressed common operational questions during the discussion: students will still be permitted to carry phones but “bringing out the phone to open it and use it for searching the Internet, for texting, for calling” during instructional periods would be a violation; recording during instruction was also described as a violation. Staff said authorized instructional use can be permitted if the district or school explicitly approves it.

The waiver and the policy were both introduced and carried under the board’s special business agenda. The district told the board it will coordinate communications with families and principals and provide periodic implementation reports to the board.