08/15/2026
Western School District families,
Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, all Michigan public schools will be required to implement student wireless device restrictions during instructional time under new state legislation passed earlier this year.
As we prepared for this transition at Western School District, we knew this conversation was about much more than simply “taking phones away.” Our district worked closely with building administrators and school leadership teams to develop expectations that are age-appropriate, realistic, and aligned to the unique needs of our students and schools.
Our goal is to create learning environments where students are:
- More focused
- More engaged
- More connected to the people around them
- Less distracted by devices and social pressures throughout the school day
While the state law establishes the requirement, districts still have flexibility in how expectations are implemented locally.
After careful discussion and planning, Western’s approach was designed to balance:
- Student learning and engagement
- Age-appropriate independence
- School safety and emergency procedures
- Family communication concerns
- Consistent expectations across grade levels
That is why many of the expectations will remain consistent across the district, while still allowing for slight differences as students grow older and demonstrate increased independence and responsibility:
- Elementary students are encouraged to leave personal devices at home. If brought to school, devices must remain turned off and stored during the entire school day, including on the bus to and from school.
- Middle school students will store devices in lockers during the school day and may briefly check phones at their lockers between classes. Phones will not be permitted during lunch to help reduce social distractions and increase student interaction.
- High school students will store devices in lockers during the school day, may briefly check phones at their lockers between classes, and will also have access to devices during lunch.
We also recognize that many parents understandably worry about communication during emergencies. Student safety remains our top priority. State law additionally requires schools to update emergency procedures related to device use, and our district will continue working closely with safety officials and first responders to ensure strong communication systems and clear emergency protocols are in place.
Most importantly, this work is not just about restriction. It is about intentionally creating school environments where attention, presence, engagement, and human connection are the norm.
Please review the attached graphic for a detailed breakdown of grade-level expectations and the “why” behind these changes.
For additional information and future updates, please visit our Parent Quick Links page:
https://www.wsdpanthers.org/parents/parent-quick-links
We appreciate the partnership and support of our families as we continue preparing students for success both inside and outside the classroom.
Sincerely,
Mike Smajda
Superintendent
