Cowan Cell Phone Policy

Dear Cowan Families,

Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, Indiana schools must comply with Senate Enrolled Act 78, a new statewide law establishing a “bell-to-bell” restriction on students’ personal wireless communication devices. Under the law, schools must adopt either a no-device policy or a secure-storage policy requiring devices to remain powered off, stored away, and inaccessible throughout the school day. The law applies not only to cell phones, but also to smartwatches, tablets, gaming devices, and other personal wireless communication devices.

For Cowan Community Schools, the new law will not result in a significant change to our daily expectations. Cowan has long maintained a cell phone ban from 8:10 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Students have not been permitted to use cell phones during classes, passing periods, lunch, or any other portion of the school day.

The primary change involves where students must keep their devices. Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, students who bring a cell phone or other personal wireless communication device to school must power it off and place it in their locker before the school day begins. The device must remain powered off and in the student’s locker until the end of the school day.

We recognize that cell phones are an important part of daily life and that families use them to coordinate transportation, employment, extracurricular activities, and other responsibilities. However, during the school day, our responsibility is to provide students with a safe, focused, and productive learning environment. Cell phones can be a significant distraction, and for some students, separating from them can be difficult. A consistent, schoolwide policy removes uncertainty and allows students to focus more fully on instruction, relationships, and participation in school.

The following questions and answers explain how the policy will be implemented at Cowan Community Schools.

How does this differ from Cowan’s previous policy?

Under our previous policy, a violation occurred when a student used a cell phone during the school day or when a device made a sound or otherwise caused a disruption. Those expectations will continue.

The important difference is that, under the new policy, a student may not keep a cell phone or other covered personal device on their person during the school day. The device must be powered off, stored in the student’s locker, and inaccessible from 8:10 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Staff members will NOT search students simply to determine whether they have a cell phone in a pocket or on their person. However, if a device is visible, heard, used, or otherwise discovered to be in a student’s possession during the school day, that will constitute a policy violation.

If my child’s phone is visible in a pocket or elsewhere on their person, is that a violation even if the phone is not being used?

Yes. If a cell phone is visible on a student, including if it is sticking out of a pocket, the student is in violation of the policy. The same applies if staff members otherwise observe that a student has a covered device on their person.

The new state requirement is not limited to actively using a device. Under Cowan’s secure-storage policy, the device must be powered off and stored in the student’s locker throughout the school day.

What are the consequences for violating the cell phone policy?

Cowan’s established consequences will remain in place:

Cowan Elementary School

First violation:  - Warning.  Items will be kept in the office until the end of the day and possible disciplinary actions will follow.

Second violation: - Items must be picked up by a parent and consequence given.

Third violation: - Items must be picked up by a parent and student will serve a Friday Night detention.

Fourth violation: – Items must be picked up by a parent and this will be viewed as insubordination.  The student will serve a minimum of 3 days in the New Beginnings program.

Cowan Jr./Sr. High School

First violation: The device will be taken to the front office and held until the end of the school day. The student may pick it up after dismissal. The student will also be assigned a three-hour Friday detention.

Second violation: The device will be taken to the front office and must be picked up by a parent or guardian. The student will also be assigned a three-hour Friday detention.

Third violation: The device will be taken to the front office and must be picked up by a parent or guardian. A parent meeting will be scheduled. Repeated refusal to follow the policy will be considered insubordination and will be addressed by the administration as appropriate.

Additional or repeated violations may result in further disciplinary action consistent with the student handbook and school corporation policy.

Does my child need to keep a cell phone with them for safety?

We understand why families may feel more comfortable knowing that their children have immediate access to a cell phone. However, during a school emergency, students must be able to give their full attention to the instructions provided by teachers, administrators, our school resource officer, and emergency responders.

Our staff members and school resource officer are trained to follow established emergency procedures. During certain situations, students may need to remain silent, stay out of sight, evacuate in an orderly manner, or move to a designated location. A ringing phone, an audible notification, a conversation, or the light from a screen could interfere with those procedures.

Calls and messages can also spread incomplete or inaccurate information before school officials and emergency responders have confirmed what is happening. A large volume of calls may complicate communication efforts at the very time when school officials need to coordinate with law enforcement, emergency personnel, and families.

In an emergency, our priority is to keep students safe and provide families with accurate, timely information through the school corporation’s official communication channels. Students will be reunited with their families as soon as circumstances safely allow.

What if I need to get an important message to my child during the school day?

Please call the front office and speak with one of our secretaries. We will deliver the message to your child as quickly as possible, generally within a few minutes.

Using the front office ensures that students receive important information without interrupting instruction or risking a disciplinary referral.

What if my child needs to contact me during the school day?

Your child should speak with a teacher or obtain a pass to the front office. Office staff will help the student contact you.

Students should not use a personal device without prior authorization, even when the purpose of the call or message is legitimate.

What if my child needs to make a call from their own phone?

We understand that there may be situations in which a call needs to come from the student’s own number. For example, a student may need to contact an employer, return a scholarship-related call, communicate with a college representative, or speak with a relative who will only answer a recognized number.

In those circumstances, the student should obtain a pass to the front office and explain the situation to office staff. With authorization, the student may retrieve and use the phone in the office. After the call is completed, the student must power off the phone, return it to the locker, and go back to class.

This procedure allows us to accommodate legitimate needs while maintaining the expectations of the policy.

Does the policy apply to smartwatches and other personal devices?

Yes. The law is broader than cell phones. It covers personal wireless communication devices capable of voice, messaging, or data communication. This may include smartwatches, tablets, personal laptops, gaming devices, wireless headphones connected to personal devices, and similar technology.

Students should leave unnecessary personal devices at home. Any covered device brought to school must be powered off and stored in accordance with school policy unless the student has an approved exception.

A Shared Responsibility

Whether we personally agree with every aspect of the new law or not, Cowan Community Schools is required to implement and consistently enforce it. More importantly, a device-free school day supports the learning environment we want for every student.

Cell phones can be useful tools, but during the school day they can also interrupt instruction, divide students’ attention, contribute to social conflict, and make it more difficult for young people to engage fully with teachers and classmates. Removing that distraction gives students one fewer obstacle to overcome and allows our staff members to devote more time to teaching and supporting students.

Successful implementation will require cooperation among students, families, teachers, and administrators. We ask parents and guardians to discuss these expectations with their children before the beginning of the school year. Please remind students that if they choose to bring a device to school, it must be powered off and placed in their locker before 8:10 a.m. It must remain there until 3:00 p.m.

Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and continued support of Cowan Community Schools. By working together and maintaining consistent expectations, we can provide students with a safer, more focused, and more productive school day.