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Published 15:28 12 Aug 2026 GMT
A school district in Wyoming has started fining students $25 if they are caught using their phones during the school day.
Lincoln County School District No.1, which includes schools in Kemmerer and surrounding areas, introduced the policy ahead of the new academic year.
It bans all wireless communication devices during instructional hours, from first period to last, including extracurricular activities and field trips.
Get caught three times and it costs you money.
First offense: verbal warning. Turn the phone off, put it away.
Second offense: the phone gets confiscated and returned to a parent or guardian. The student gets detention.
Third offense: confiscation, return to parent, one day of in-school or out-of-school suspension, and a $25 fine charged to the student's parents.
Anything after that: confiscation, return, a three-day out-of-school suspension, and the student may lose the right to bring a phone to school at all.
The fine is not designed to generate revenue.
School officials told Cowboy State Daily it was introduced as a deterrent.
Principal Shawn Rogers said he hopes 'it's not going to be that big of a deal' and that no significant money will need to be collected.
He added that he would 'hope that parents would make kids pay their own fine' if they keep getting caught.
It is not just phones.
The policy applies to anything capable of wireless communication, recording, video, or computing.
That includes Bluetooth earbuds, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, and portable gaming consoles.
Devices must be stored in a locker, a closed backpack, or a storage unit provided by the school. Classrooms, hallways, common areas, and gymnasiums are all covered.
If the school has given a student a device for academic work, that is exempt.
There are also exceptions for students with a documented medical need confirmed by a doctor or licensed medical professional.
The policy states its objective is to 'strengthen Lincoln County School's focus on learning' and aligns with the district's mission to 'ignite students' passion for learning, cultivate a strong foundation of knowledge, and foster a sense of community within our schools'.
It cites personal devices as a 'distraction' that contributes to a 'negative classroom environment' and links phone use to academic misconduct, bullying, harassment, and mental health concerns.
Rogers put it more plainly: "In education, you have to be able to gain and keep students' attention for them to learn. When you're competing with a cellphone, you're going to lose every time."
English teacher Laura Clarito said she has already seen a difference since the policy took effect.
"I've seen more engagement in coursework and more conversation during downtime," she said. "Kids aren't phone zombies now, they are humans."
Wyoming is not the only state cracking down.
Multiple states have introduced or are considering legislation restricting phone use in schools.
The argument is broadly the same across the board: phones are hurting attention spans, mental health, and academic performance, and schools need legal backing to do something about it.
The $25 fine is unusual, though.
Most policies stop at confiscation and suspension.
Adding a financial penalty takes it a step further and puts the burden directly on parents, which is either a smart incentive or a punishment that disproportionately affects lower-income families, depending on who you ask.
Rogers sees it as necessary.
"There was a need for it," he said.
"We were really happy that our Legislature finally gave us something to go on. We feel like we battle with those phones so much it's definitely a distraction."
