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Sun Prairie presents cell‑phone policy to align with Wisconsin Act 42; district to codify existing practice
Summary
Administrators presented policy JFC and administrative guidelines to align district practice with 2025 Wisconsin Act 42, describing K–8 'off and away' all day and 9–12 'off and away during instructional time' with allowances for passing periods, lunch and instructional use.
The district presented a proposed JFC policy and two administrative guidelines to comply with 2025 Wisconsin Act 42, which requires school districts to adopt a cell‑phone policy. Administrators said the proposals largely codify existing building practices and will be added to student handbooks.
Under the drafts described to the board, K–8 students would keep devices "off and away" from first to last bell (for example, in lockers), while 9–12 students would keep phones off and away during instructional blocks but could access devices during passing times and lunch. Teachers may authorize device use for instructional activities; exceptions would be made for IEPs, 504s, or medical needs.
Board members asked clarifying questions about enforcement, whether headphones/earbuds are included (administration said headphones should also be away during instruction but are allowed during passing and lunch at the high school), and how the policy interacts with other district device rules. The administration said the policy draws from six model templates provided by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and noted that legal counsel reviewed the draft for compliance with Act 42.
Administration said policy JFC will appear under the superintendent’s consent agenda, with handbooks updated before the next school year.
