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Georgia school districts are heading into a transformative year. With new state legislation and continued funding initiatives shaping everything from device usage to mental health infrastructure, K-12 leaders across the state are facing an evolving set of responsibilities. The 2025-26 school year won’t just be about keeping up – it’ll be about planning ahead, building compliance into every layer of operations, and keeping students safe, supported, and connected in line with Georgia school policy.
Whether you’re part of a large urban district or a smaller suburban system, Georgia’s latest policy changes are designed to impact how schools manage technology, protect student data, and deliver equitable support services. For district leaders, the key will be balancing compliance with practicality, and finding ways to implement new policies in a manner that’s both scalable and student-first.
What’s Changing for Georgia School Policy in 2025-26?
Cell Phone Bans: HB 340 (Distraction-Free Education Act)
Starting January 2026, Georgia’s K-8 schools must enforce formal classroom cell phone restrictions. Districts are required to create and clearly communicate policies that accommodate instructional use and medical needs, while minimizing non-academic distractions. Schools are also encouraged to align these rules with broader digital citizenship education.
Student Data Privacy & Protection
Although Georgia hasn’t enacted new privacy-specific legislation, schools are still accountable for compliance with FERPA and COPPA. Districts must ensure vendors meet privacy requirements, conduct regular platform audits, and offer families access to student data when requested. Transparent data practices are increasingly seen as a trust-building and risk-reducing imperative.
Internet Safety & Cyberbullying: SB 351
Georgia’s Protecting Children on Social Media Act mandates that districts revise their Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs), block access to certain platforms, and implement structured digital citizenship instruction. The law also broadens bullying definitions to include off-campus behavior. Districts that fail to comply risk losing Department of Education funding.
Technology-Based School Safety: HB 268
This Omnibus School Safety Bill requires schools to implement 24/7 tiplines, emergency alert systems, improved data-sharing protocols, and annual staff training. It also introduces new staffing mandates, assigning one safety/mental health advocate per 18,000 students. Statewide safety grants (~$21,600 per school) and other funding sources are available to support compliance.
Mental Health Technology Services: HB 268 & HB 24
Districts must now expand access to behavioral health tools, including teletherapy, trained professionals, and regular threat assessment protocols. Multiple funding streams are available – from DBHDD and CJCC grants to a $402M QBE formula increase – to support wellness infrastructure and staffing.
Parental Rights & Technology Oversight: SB 351
This law (though partially blocked) affirms families’ right to access platform data, request student permissions, and control social media usage. Districts must revise consent policies, ensure age verification, and bolster communication systems that support tech transparency and parental involvement.
Download the 2025-26 School Readiness Guide
To help district and school leaders stay ahead of these shifts, we’ve created the 2025-26 School Readiness Guide: a national resource designed to help K-12 decision-makers align their practices with the latest legislation, safety mandates, and student wellness priorities.
The guide includes six key focus areas:
- Cell phone bans & digital distractions
- Student data privacy & vendor accountability
- Campus & physical safety
- Online safety & digital wellbeing
- Responsible AI readiness & usage
- Community-centered student support
Each section includes a clear checklist and action items to follow, making the guide easy to reference and implement.
You can download the guide for free here.
Further K-12 Guidance & Support is Just a Click Away
At Securly, we’re proud to support 585,148 students across 137 schools and districts in Georgia. From Gwinnett County Schools and Atlanta Public Schools, to Houston County and Bibb County, we’re trusted by districts of all sizes to help create safer, more connected, and more future-ready learning environments.
Whether you’re responding to new policy, evaluating your safety and wellness tools, or looking for expert support, our team is always here to support you along the way.
To learn more about Securly, visit our website.
For regularly updated Georgia school policy information, bookmark the hub.
To discuss your school and its needs for 2025-26 with one of our experts, schedule a call.
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