Hutchinson School District Implements Strict Cell Phone Policy for 2025-26 School Year

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 Board of Education has adopted a comprehensive policy restricting student use of cell phones, headphones and earbuds during school hours for the 2025-26 academic year.

The policy varies by grade level, with the most restrictive measures applying to younger students.

Elementary school students in kindergarten through sixth grade must turn off all personal devices upon entering school and store them in backpacks for the entire school day. The devices must remain put away until students leave campus.

Middle school students in grades 7-8 face similar restrictions, with all personal cell phones and audio devices required to be turned off and stored in backpacks or lockers from the start of the school day through dismissal.

High school students in grades 9-12 have slightly more flexibility under the new policy. They may possess their devices during the school day but must keep them out of sight and on silent mode during all class periods.

The policy applies to all schools within the district, including Allen STEM Magnet, Faris, Graber, Lincoln-McCandless, Wiley and Morgan elementary schools; HMS7 and HMS8 middle schools; and Midtown and Hutchinson High School.

The board approved and incorporated the policy into student handbooks for each grade level. Complete policy details are available at www.usd308.com/handbooks.

The implementation comes as school districts nationwide grapple with managing student device usage and maintaining focused learning environments in classrooms.