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Wireless Communication Devices Update to Policy for 2026-27 School Year

    May 22, 2026

    Monroe County Community School Corporation
    Wireless Communication Devices

    Update to Policy 5136 for 2026–2027 School Year 

     

    Dear MCCSC Families,

    Indiana’s Senate Enrolled Act 78 (SEA 78) requires all public schools to adopt a bell-to-bell wireless communication device policy. To comply with this new state law, we have updated our Policy 5136 in alignment with the feedback we received from our families, schools, teachers, and staff. The updated policy was presented to the Board of School Trustees for a first reading on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 and will be on the agenda for a second reading and Board approval on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. This letter explains what will change, what will stay the same, and what you need to know before the school year begins. 

    What Is Changing 

    Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, students may not use personal wireless communication devices — including cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, wireless headphones, and gaming devices — during the school day.  

     

     

    What “during the school day” means: 

    The school day begins the moment their first class begins to the time their last class ends and is the same as school’s current start and end times. During that time, devices must be: 

    • Powered completely off (not silenced or on airplane mode) 
    • Stored out of sight in a location identified by your school’s principal (your school principal will communicate the location for your student’s school)  
    • Inaccessible to the student 

     

     

    ​This is state law enacted by the Indiana legislature and will be in place whether or not the updated policy is approved in June. This will be a change from past practice, which did not allow wireless communication devices to be used during classroom instructional time. 

    We Heard Your Feedback 

    While the law itself is set by the state, Indiana gave school corporations two options in how to implement it; so we gathered input from our community. This past spring, 422 members of our community (parents, staff, and students) responded to our survey. The overwhelming majority (83%) preferred that students bring devices to school but store and power them off during the day, rather than leaving them at home. This approach is reflected in our implementation. 

    The concerns we heard most often were emergency communication, after-school logistics, and fairness in enforcement and these have directly shaped our guidelines. We are committed to applying this policy equitably; while storage locations may vary by school, expectations for students will be consistent across MCCSC schools.  

    What Stays the Same 

    Many of you shared concerns about staying connected with your child, and there are important protections built into this policy: 

    Your child can still: 

    • Use their device before school — while waiting for classes to begin 
    • Use their device after school — once the school day ends 
    • Bring their device to school — it just must be stored and off during the day 
    • Use it during extracurriculars — clubs, sports, and after-school activities are not restricted 
    • Use it on the bus — at the driver’s discretion 

    Exceptions during the day: 

    • Medical need — use to manage a health condition documented by a licensed provider 
    • IEP or 504 Plan — if the device is an appropriate and needed accommodation for your child’s plan 
    • Emergency — when school administration authorizes use for emergency purposes 
    • Language translation — when no school device is available 
    • School-issued device — for educational purposes, with teacher permission 

    How to Reach Your Child During the School Day 

    If you have an urgent need to reach your child during school hours, please contact the school’s main office directly. Office staff can reach your child quickly and will ensure they get your message. This is the same process that has always been available to families. 

    If Your Child Has a Medical Need or IEP/504 Accommodation 

    If your child uses a device to manage a medical condition (such as a continuous glucose monitor linked to a phone), or if their IEP or 504 Plan includes a device accommodation, please contact your school’s main office before the school year begins to ensure the appropriate documentation is in place. 

    What Happens If the Policy Is Not Followed 

    Our goal is always to keep students in class and learning. If a student is found with a wireless communication device during the school day, consequences follow an escalating scale:

    # of Offenses

    Consequence

    Progressive Discipline Level*

    1st

    The device will be taken to the office, and the office will contact home.

    Student will receive a verbal warning.

    The student will be able to pick up the device from the office at the end of the school day.

    2

    2nd

    The device will be taken to the office, and the office will contact home.

    The student will receive a disciplinary action

    The student will be able to pick up the device from the office at the end of the school day.

    2

    3rd

    The device will be taken to the office, and the office will contact home.

    The student will receive an escalating disciplinary action

    The student will be able to pick up the device from the office at the end of the school day.

    3

    4th and repeated

    The device will be taken to the office, and the office will contact home.

    The student will receive an escalating disciplinary action

    Parent, guardian or a designee must pick up the device from the office.

    The student may lose the privilege of bringing a device to school.

    3

    *All disciplinary actions will be in accordance with MCCSC progressive discipline guidelines. Please see the MCCSC Student Support Guide for additional information about MCCSC Progressive Discipline Levels.