Colorado School Phone Policy: Laws, Requirements, Costs & Solutions

Colorado schools are implementing new statewide requirements for student cellphone policies. Under House Bill 25-1135 (HB25-1135), covered school governing bodies must adopt, implement, and publicly post policies addressing student communication device possession and use by July 1, 2026.

Unlike states that mandate a universal bell-to-bell cellphone ban, Colorado gives local education leaders flexibility to decide how to manage student devices throughout the school day.

For school leaders, the challenge is turning those policies into consistent, practical expectations that reduce classroom distractions without creating unnecessary burdens for educators or limiting essential student access.

This guide explains Colorado's school cellphone law, requirements, exceptions, implementation options, costs, and potential funding sources.

For a quick summary of the legislation, download The Commons' Colorado School Phone Policy Overview.

What Is Colorado's School Cellphone Law?

Colorado's school cellphone law, HB25-1135, was signed into law on May 1, 2025. It requires covered public school governing bodies to establish policies addressing student communication device possession and use during the school day.

At a minimum, policies must describe:

• Any prohibitions and exceptions concerning student possession of communication devices during the school day.
• Any prohibitions and exceptions concerning student use of communication devices during the school day.

Does Colorado require schools to ban cellphones?

No. Colorado does not require every school to adopt a universal bell-to-bell cellphone ban.

HB25-1135 establishes a statewide policy requirement but lets school governing bodies set restrictions appropriate to their communities.

Districts may adopt policies that limit devices during instructional time, throughout the school day, or by grade level and other local considerations.

This flexibility allows Colorado schools to choose enforcement approaches that support their educational priorities while addressing student safety, accessibility, and operational needs.

What Are the Requirements for Colorado Schools?

HB25-1135 applies to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, institute charter schools, district charter schools, and local boards of education for schools that are not district charter schools, subject to the law's existing-policy exemption.

Covered governing bodies must adopt, implement, and post their policies on their websites.

The law also directs schools to consider important factors when developing policies, including:

• Staff training needs and capacity to enforce restrictions.
• Media literacy and social-emotional learning.
• Input from school staff and the public.
• Appropriate device use for educational, medical, and accessibility needs.
• Practical implementation and enforcement considerations.

Colorado does not prescribe one specific enforcement technology or require districts to purchase physical phone pouches.

Schools can evaluate different approaches based on their student populations, staffing resources, and existing technology infrastructure.

When Must Colorado Schools Implement Their Phone Policies?

July 1, 2026, was the statewide deadline for covered governing bodies to adopt, implement, and publicly post student communication device policies.

This means Colorado schools entered the 2026–27 school year with new statewide policy requirements in place.

The legislation also exempts governing bodies that adopted and implemented qualifying communication device policies on or before August 31, 2025.

For school leaders, the priority is now ensuring policies are consistently communicated, understood, and enforced.

Districts should evaluate whether their implementation approach provides:

• Clear expectations for students and families.
• Consistent enforcement procedures for educators.
• Appropriate access for medical and accessibility accommodations.
• Practical ways to manage approved device use.
• Ongoing support and opportunities for improvement.

What Exceptions Are Allowed Under Colorado's School Phone Policy?

Colorado's legislation recognizes that student communication devices may serve important educational, medical, accessibility, and safety purposes.

HB25-1135 protects necessary device access for medical conditions and disability-related accommodations, including:

• Monitoring or addressing a student's medical condition.
• Fulfilling an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
• Supporting a Section 504 plan.
• Providing an effective communication accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The law also identifies circumstances schools may consider when developing local policies, including instructional purposes, Safe2Tell reporting, and emergency situations.

These considerations give districts flexibility to determine how approved device access should function within their broader restrictions.

For schools evaluating enforcement solutions, this raises an important operational question: Can the policy restrict distracting technology while preserving access to essential, school-approved functions?

Software-based phone management can offer flexibility for schools that want to limit distractions without requiring students to physically surrender their devices.

How Can Colorado Schools Enforce Their Phone Policies?

Colorado schools have several options for implementing student phone restrictions. Each approach has different considerations for student access, staff workload, and long-term sustainability.

Physical locking phone pouches

Students place their devices inside locking pouches during designated school periods.

This approach physically limits access to devices and may be appropriate for schools seeking complete separation between students and their phones.

Considerations include pouch distribution, unlocking procedures, replacement equipment, and staff oversight.

Phone lockers or collection systems

Students store their devices in classroom holders, lockers, or centralized storage areas.

These systems reduce access during designated periods but require procedures for collection, retrieval, and exceptions.

Software-based phone management

Software-based solutions restrict distracting apps and websites while letting students keep their devices.

Schools can establish restrictions during designated school hours while permitting approved educational, medical, accessibility, and communication functions.

This approach can reduce the need to physically collect devices while supporting consistent, school-defined restrictions.

Schools should consider onboarding, student participation, device compatibility, technical reliability, and ongoing implementation support.

Classroom-based restrictions

Some schools rely on classroom procedures requiring students to keep devices off, away, or stored during instruction.

While these policies may be straightforward to establish, consistent enforcement can add responsibility for educators, especially when expectations vary across classrooms.

Choosing an enforcement approach

The right approach depends on the district's goals, available resources, and desired level of student access.

For schools seeking strong restrictions without physically collecting devices, software-based management provides an alternative worth evaluating.

Read The Commons vs. Phone Pouches: Which School Phone Policy Solution Is Right for Your School? for a closer comparison.

How Much Does School Phone Management Cost in Colorado?

Costs vary by solution, vendor, student population, implementation requirements, and contract terms.

Physical phone pouches

Based on historical industry experience and observed market pricing, physical locking pouches may cost approximately $15–$30 per student.

Additional expenses may include replacement pouches, unlocking equipment, and staff time.

These figures are illustrative estimates, not verified current quotes from individual vendors.

Software-based phone management

Software-based solutions typically use annual per-student subscriptions.

Historical market estimates range from approximately $5–$15 per student annually, depending on the provider and services included.

Additional considerations include onboarding, technical support, and implementation resources.

Comparing total costs

Districts should evaluate total cost of ownership rather than comparing upfront equipment prices directly with annual software subscriptions.

Over multiple years, costs may include equipment replacement, ongoing subscriptions, administrative workload, training, and support.

Schools exploring available technologies can review our guide to the best apps and solutions to limit student phone use at school.

Are Grants Available for Colorado School Phone Policies?

HB25-1135 does not establish a dedicated statewide grant program for purchasing school phone-management solutions.

However, Colorado schools may be able to explore existing district budgets and other funding opportunities, depending on program eligibility and allowable expenses.

Potential funding categories include:

• Educational technology budgets.
• Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and school climate initiatives.
• Student wellness and mental health programs.
• Professional development funding.
• Eligible federal or state education programs.
• Local education foundations and philanthropic partnerships.

Schools should consult their district finance and grants teams to confirm eligibility before allocating funds.

Districts may also evaluate whether phone-management investments support broader priorities, including classroom engagement, school climate, digital wellness, and student behavior.

What Should Colorado Districts Do Next?

With Colorado's statewide policy deadline behind them, school leaders should focus on creating consistent, sustainable implementation.

1. Review your adopted policy. Confirm that expectations for device possession, use, restrictions, and exceptions are clearly documented and publicly available where required.

2. Evaluate enforcement options. Consider whether physical storage, software-based restrictions, or a combination of approaches best supports the district's goals.

3. Establish procedures for approved access. Ensure students can access necessary medical, accessibility, and other approved functions.

4. Communicate the purpose behind the policy. Help students and families understand how reducing digital distractions supports learning, connection, and well-being.

5. Support educators. Provide training, clear expectations, and consistent administrative support so teachers are not left to manage phone enforcement alone.

6. Engage students. Invite feedback on implementation challenges, approved applications, and ways to encourage healthier digital habits.

7. Monitor implementation. Review participation, staff feedback, and operational challenges to identify opportunities for improvement.

A successful school phone policy goes beyond establishing restrictions. It creates an environment where students can focus, educators can teach, and healthier digital habits can develop.

Is The Commons Right for Your Colorado District?

The Commons helps K–12 schools implement phone policies through a privacy-first, software-based platform that reduces digital distractions without requiring students to surrender their devices.

During designated school hours, The Commons restricts distracting apps and websites based on school-defined policies.

Schools can configure approved functionality to support their students' needs while reducing access to social media, gaming, streaming, and other distractions.

The platform includes:

• Distraction management: Restricts distracting apps and websites during School Mode.
• Essential communication: Phone calls remain available, while text messaging and camera access are configurable by school policy.
• Approved applications: Schools can permit educational, medical, and accessibility apps and websites.
• Administrative visibility: Dashboards provide insights into student participation and application status.
• Implementation support: Resources help schools communicate expectations, onboard students, and support adoption.
• Digital wellness education: Staff professional development and a four-module curriculum help students develop healthier relationships with technology.

The Commons combines technology with behavioral science-informed strategies to reduce distractions while building healthier digital habits.

For Colorado schools, this approach can support locally determined restrictions while preserving essential device functionality and reducing reliance on physical collection systems.

Remove the distraction. Preserve the utility. Build the habit.

Ready to Explore a Phone-Management Solution?

Colorado's school phone law gives districts flexibility in how they manage student devices. The next step is making those policies practical, consistent, and sustainable.

The Commons helps schools combine software-based restrictions, implementation support, and digital wellness education to create more focused learning environments.

Request a Demo of The Commons to explore how our platform can support your Colorado school or district.

You can also download our Colorado School Phone Policy Overview for a quick reference to HB25-1135 and its key requirements.

Official Sources

• Colorado General Assembly — HB25-1135
• Colorado HB25-1135 — Signed Act
• Colorado Department of Education — Communication Devices in Schools

Last reviewed: October 17, 2026. This article provides general information and is not legal advice.