OPELIKA, Ala. - (WRBL) - With the start of the 2025–2026 school year, Alabama’s new FOCUS Act is officially in effect — banning student cell phones, smartwatches, and earbuds during the school day at all public K–12 schools across the state.

At Opelika High School, students in grades 9 through 12 are using magnetic locking pouches to comply with the law. Each morning, students place their phones/smart devices in the pouch, seal it shut, and store it in their backpacks. The pouch remains locked all day until dismissal, when school staff use a special magnetic device to unlock each one.

“So this pouch has a magnet, unlocks this device. You slide your phone in, lock it back, and you cannot unlock it without using the magnet,” explained Opelika City Schools Superintendent Kevin Davis. “As th

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