USD 475 Cell Phone Ban

In spring 2026, Kansas legislators passed a law, and every Kansas school district is now required to ban student access to and use of cell phones and other personal electronic communication devices from “bell to bell.”

USD 475 students are prohibited from accessing any personal electronic communication device on any school campus between their arrival to school and their dismissal at the end of the school day. In our district, the school day is the following.

• 7:40 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. for Junction City High School students
• 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. for H.D. Karns Alternative students
• 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. for middle school students
• 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. for elementary students
• 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Fort Riley Elementary students
• 8:05 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. for Seitz Elementary students
• 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for Early Childhood students

Yes, the cell phone ban will be the same in every building. USD 475 students will not be allowed to have or use any personal electronic communication device on any public school campus between the start and end of the school day.

This term is defined in the law to include any wireless electronic communication device that provides for voice, text or video communication between two or more parties. This includes a mobile or cellular phone, tablet, computer, watch, wireless headphones or earbuds, text messaging device or personal digital assistant, among others. The law does not restrict devices that students receive from the school district, such as the Chromebooks used in our schools. These are allowed and should be brought to school for learning activities, as in the past.

Please call or email your child’s school office; the team will be happy to assist you. In urgent situations, messages may be delivered to students during the school day, or the student may be asked to come to the office to use a phone. Otherwise, students will be notified that they have a note to pick up in the office between class periods or after school.

The law specifies that the phones must be stored securely and away from the student. Students may choose to leave their devices at home or locked in their car at school. If they bring them inside, they will be properly stored according to the law. On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the USD 475 Board of Education approved Yondr brand pouches be used to store communication devices for the 2026-27 school year, including storage, unlocking magnets and implementation to support Junction City High School, Junction City Middle School and Fort Riley Middle School.

Students should inform their teacher if they need help contacting a parent, sibling or caregiver. They are also welcome to stop by the office during a passing period or lunch time to place a phone call or request help getting a message to a parent, sibling or caregiver.

The law that was passed in Topeka does not provide an exception for emergencies. Rest assured, in an urgent situation or safety concern on campus, information will be sent through ParentSquare to all parents, guardians, caregivers and other emergency contacts provided during registration/enrollment. If you have questions about how you will receive these updates or need to update your contact information, please call or email your child’s school office for assistance.

According to the 2026 law, every Kansas school board is required to adopt and update board policies to explain how the new law will be implemented locally. Please note that our family handbook will have new policies to explain these changes for students and families once it is available later this summer. 

The law grants an exception for students who need their device to manage a health issue, such as checking blood sugar. Parents are asked to contact their child's schools front office or 785-717-4000 if their child has a medical need. Our school nurses/health services team will also be reaching out to those they know may require a device for medical reasons during the day.

A student may be permitted to use a personal electronic device during the school day if it is the intervention of last resort such that there is no other reasonable alternative option available for each student, and the use is either:

​​​​​​​• Required for implementation of a student’s IEP or 504 plan; or
• Approved by a licensed physician as a medical necessity to support the health of well-being of the student.

The law explicitly prohibits students from accessing or using personal devices during the school day while on campus. Please contact your child’s teacher, coach or principal if you have questions or concerns about the access to or use of a personal electronic communication device in a specific off-campus situation.

Please note that when students are checked out by a parent or guardian to leave campus or are leaving the school for other excused absences, including internships, field trips or other school sponsored activities, students will follow the same protocol they do for end of day dismissal.

We have procedures in place to release a student’s phone from storage when they are checked out by a parent or guardian to leave campus or are leaving the school for other excused absences. The device must be properly stored again in the Yondr brand pouch if or when they return to school that day.

We know this is a big change, and we will work with students at school to create a smooth transition as much as possible. We will also explain the consequences of not following the new rules and policy to each student. Violations will be handled individually, following our standard disciplinary policy and procedures once they are available. 

Please encourage students to follow this new requirement and share some of the benefits that come from a less distracted learning environment. Working together, we hope to minimize additional disruptions to their school day that could come from non-compliance or disciplinary procedures.

Parents, caregivers and students are all encouraged to review the handbook policy about device use at school. This will be found in the 2026-27 student handbook once it is available later this summer.

Our community is unique, but nationwide studies suggest that removing cell phones during school may benefit student learning by increasing classroom engagement and participation, while reducing cyberbullying and office discipline referrals.

Your child’s school office will be happy to answer your questions or help address any individual concerns you might have. School front offices will open for the new school year on July 28, 2026. If you have questions prior to the end of July, please feel free to reach out to the district office at 785-717-4000 and ask for Heather Oentrich, Director of Student Support Services.