Bell to Bell, No Cell

Coming This School Year

In accordance with Georgia House Bill 1009, updated in 2026 to include grades 9-12, Dade County High School will implement a distraction free education for grades 9-12 during the 2026-2027 school year. Although the state law does not officially go into effect for grades 9-12 until the 2027-2028 school year, DCHS is getting a head start because we feel that focusing on learning today builds a stronger and better tomorrow. This should not be a huge shock to the system of our incoming freshmen -- Dade Middle School has already paved the way with a distraction free environment for the last couple of years. The only difference for our 10-12 graders is the phones will be placed in lockers at the beginning of the day instead of storing them in a special place provided by the teacher in each classroom.

Students with documented medical needs, Section 504 plans, or Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) requiring device access will continue to receive appropriate accommodations and support. A student whose IEP, Section 504 plan, or medical plan explicitly mandates the use of a personal electronic device for medical or educational purposes shall be permitted to access the device as necessary to fulfill the requirements of the respective program or plan.

What This Means for Students

During the school day, students will be expected to keep personal electronic devices put away in lockers and inaccessible from the first bell through dismissal. This includes:

Cell Phones

Smartwatches

Earbuds and Headphones

Tablets and personal gaming devices

Other personal electronic devices

School-issued technology and instructional devices will continue to be used for educational purposes as directed by teachers.

Communication: How Can I Reach My Child During the Day?

For urgent messages, please call the front office. You will be able to speak to someone who can relay a message to your child. While some teachers/coaches may communicate via other platforms (Remind, Email, etc.), if there is an emergency, please reach out to the school office and speak to someone. For transportation changes, we would also encourage you to send a note if you know ahead of time or call the front office to speak to a front office staff member who can relay the message. If you send an email to your child's teacher throughout the day, they might miss an email. Always feel free to email teachers for inquiries such as grades, assignments, etc. They will get back to you when they are free from classroom duties.

Communication: How Can Students Contact Parents During the Day?

If a student needs to reach a parent/guardian during the school day, they can use the following school resources:

• Office Phone - if they need to speak directly to you
• Teacher - the teacher can send a message through a messaging tool or email
• School Counselor/Nurse - can contact parents
• Students can send messages through their own email when they have access to their email accounts through our Chromebooks.

Why Dade County High School is Making This Change

Our goal is simple: create learning environments with fewer distractions and more opportunities for students to focus, engage, collaborate, and connect. The State of Georgia reinforced this with the passing of two bills (GA House Bill 340, GA House Bill 1009) in the last two years that created the "bell-to-bell" policy with regard to cell phones and other personal electronic devices. Research and classroom experience continue to show that reducing personal device distractions during the school day can support:

Improved student focus

Increased classroom engagement

Stronger peer interaction

Better academic outcomes

Safer and more connected school environments