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Verona Area School District begins work to implement Act 42 on student device use
Summary
District staff briefed the school board on Wisconsin’s Act 42 requirement that districts adopt a wireless-communication-device policy by July and asked for direction on definitions, instructional exceptions, consistency across buildings and emergency access.
District staff told the Verona Area School District board that Wisconsin’s 2025 Act 42 requires a district policy on wireless communication devices by July, and asked trustees to advise on key definitions and exceptions. "2025 Act 42 requires that school districts have a policy for giving the use of wireless communication devices, by July," the presenter said, outlining the four device categories named in the law and noting districts may expand that list.
The presentation framed three central choices for the board: how to define "away" (in a pocket, backpack or a designated "phone hotel"); what counts as instructional time; and whether the district should allow building-level flexibility or enforce a uniform districtwide rule. Staff emphasized that Act 42 also requires exceptions for health, safety and disability-related needs.
Board members and staff discussed enforcement burdens on teachers, liability for devices stored on school premises, and the need for clear guidance where devices are permitted for instruction. One board member said teachers already vary in classroom rules and urged consistency so a student is not held to different standards in adjacent classrooms. Staff proposed an administrative rule revision and said the district’s student, family and staff advisory groups had already weighed in.
The board directed staff to draft an administrative rule aligned with Act 42 and OE-10 and to return with recommended language and stakeholder engagement plans. Staff noted the district will research peer districts’ approaches and seek additional input from principals, teacher leaders, students and families.
Next steps: administration will draft an updated administrative rule for board review, with stakeholder engagement and clarification around emergency access, instructional exceptions and a finalized device list.
