New law prompts clearer cellphone rules in schools

Wyoming’s new cellphone law does not require schools to ban student phones. Instead, it requires every school district to have a clear policy explaining when students may possess and use cellphones and other smart devices at school.

That distinction is important as Big Horn County School Districts #1 and #2 put updated language in place for the 2026-27 school year.

Senate File 35, passed during the 2026 legislative session and signed by Gov. Mark Gordon on March 6, requires every district board to adopt a policy governing student possession and use of cellphones and smart devices. Districts were required to establish those policies by July 1.

The legislature deliberately left the details to local school boards. The law does not mandate a bell-to-bell ban, classroom phone caddies, discipline procedures or rules for passing periods and lunch. It simply requires each district to make its expectations clear.

Both local districts felt they already had solid expectations for student device use and were generally meeting the intent of the new law. The work this summer was largely about refining the wording, putting expectations in writing and making them more consistent for students, staff and parents.

At Rocky Mountain schools, the policy covers more than cellphones. It includes smartwatches, earbuds or non-medical headphones, tablets and other personal devices that can communicate or connect to the internet.

Rocky Mtn. Elementary

Rocky Mountain Elementary principal Eric Honeyman said the elementary expectation is simple.

“Our cellphone policy is simple: all students must turn in all phones and smartwatches at the office,” Honeyman said. “No students have phones or those devices in the classroom.”

Rocky Mtn. Middle/High School

Rocky Mountain 6-12 principal Betsy Sammons said the middle school policy gives students a clear, workable boundary.

“At the middle school, students may have devices before and after school, but during the school day they are expected to be powered off or placed in airplane mode, stored in a locker or backpack and kept out of sight during class,” Sammons said. “A teacher may allow a device for a specific instructional purpose.

“The high school policy provides more access outside the classroom. Students may use phones before school, during passing periods, at lunch and after school. Once class begins, however, phones must be powered off or in airplane mode and out of sight.”

The message is simple: Phones may be part of the school day, but they should not be part of class unless the teacher says they are.

Lovell Elementary

Lovell schools follow a similar approach, with stricter limits for younger students. Lovell Elementary principal Colby Gull said students are not allowed to use cellphones during the school day. If a family believes a phone is necessary for after-school plans, it must remain turned off in the student’s backpack until dismissal. Smartwatches may be worn as watches but may not be used to send or receive calls or texts.

“LES students are not allowed to have cellphones out at school,” Gull said. “If a family believes a phone is necessary for after-school use, it must remain turned off in the student’s backpack until dismissal.”

Lovell Middle School

At Lovell Middle School, devices must be turned off and placed in lockers from 7:55 a.m. until 3:21 p.m., or until the end of the school day. They may not be carried on students or used during those hours.

Principal Lydia McCracken also reminds families that students are discouraged from bringing valuable electronic devices, because the school cannot be responsible if they are lost, stolen or damaged.

A device found on a student or used during the school day may be confiscated and returned to a parent or guardian at the principal’s discretion. Video and music players are also not to be used at school, though they may be allowed on activity buses at the discretion of a coach or sponsor.

Lovell High School

At Lovell High School, principal Cynthia Porter said students may use devices during passing periods and lunch, but phones are to be off and out of sight once class begins. The policy gives students time to check messages and make plans during natural breaks while keeping instructional time focused on teachers, classmates and coursework.

Students should not assume that a phone in a pocket is acceptable during class. If a teacher directs students to put devices away or place them in a designated location, they are expected to comply immediately. Phones may be used for a specific instructional purpose only when a teacher authorizes it.

Both districts make clear that a phone is not a private exception to school rules. Students may not use devices to cheat, including through messaging, social media or artificial intelligence tools. They may not photograph, record or share images of others in ways that violate privacy or school rules. Devices are not permitted in bathrooms, locker rooms or other private areas.

Teachers may allow devices when they directly support a lesson, but students are expected to follow staff directions. Coaches, sponsors and activity supervisors may also set additional expectations during practices, competitions, performances and travel.

How parents can help

Parents can do much to make these policies work. First, they can review their child’s school-specific rules and reinforce them at home. Expectations are different for elementary, middle and high school students, so families should make sure children know when a device must be off, in a backpack, in a locker or turned in.

Families can also help by making transportation, activity and after-school plans before students leave home. When a child does not need a phone for the school day, the simplest choice is to leave it at home.

Parents who need to reach a child during the day should contact the school office rather than text directly. Students who need to make an important call can use a school telephone with staff permission. Families can also talk with their children about privacy, online behavior and the fact that using a phone, smartwatch or AI tool to cheat is still cheating.

Finally, parents can support teachers and administrators when a device is confiscated. Questions or concerns can be addressed calmly with the school, but consistent backing from home makes it easier for staff to enforce rules fairly and for students to understand that the expectations are real.

The purpose is not to make cellphones the enemy. It is to create classrooms where students can give their attention to learning, build real conversations with classmates and be fully present in the moments that make up a school day.