Denver Public Schools Bans Student Cell Phone Use in August as Colorado Tightens K-12 Rules
Updated
Updated · Boulder Daily Camera · Jun 15
Denver Public Schools Bans Student Cell Phone Use in August as Colorado Tightens K-12 Rules
3 articles · Updated · Boulder Daily Camera · Jun 15
Summary
Denver Public Schools, Colorado’s largest district, unanimously approved a bell-to-bell ban on student cellphone use during school hours starting in August.
The move comes after Colorado required every K-12 district to adopt a phone policy by July 1, though Denver and Boulder Valley went further than the law’s minimum requirement.
Boulder Valley, which began its high school ban in January 2025, told board members students are more connected and less distracted, offering an early model for Denver.
Large campuses still pose the biggest challenge: principals at 1,470-student Monarch and roughly 1,800-student Boulder and Fairview said passing periods, open campuses and uneven teacher buy-in weaken enforcement.
Boulder Valley board members said they want culture change over punishment, with schools planning more classroom discussion on phone and social-media harms in the coming year.