For years, Manchester High School’s policy required students to put phones away in class, but allowed them to be taken out in the cafeteria. Students could use headphones or earbuds while eating lunch, but only over or in one ear.

Then, in 2025, lawmakers passed a law championed by Gov. Kelly Ayotte that required schools to ban the devices for the whole day: “bell-to-bell.” With some reservations, Manchester’s Board of School Committee changed the policy last August, and the cafeteria exception disappeared. 

Originally published on newhampshirebulletin.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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