Helping Students Adjust to New School Phone Policies
A practical webinar series for school leaders, educators, and families navigating changes under Wisconsin Act 42.
Wisconsin schools are preparing to implement new student cell phone policies under Wisconsin Act 42 for the 2026-27 school year. In response, UW-Madison Division of Extension is offering the Wisconsin School Phone Bans Webinar Series, a three-part series for school leaders, educators, and families.
Each session is designed for a different audience and will offer practical tools and evidence-based guidance for supporting students as schools put new phone policies into practice.
Wisconsin School Phone Bans Webinar Series
Implementing School Phone Bans
for school leaders
Monday, August 31, 2026
12:00–1:15 p.m.
$10 to attend
Managing Phone-Free Learning
for educators
Monday, August 31, 2026
5:30–6:00 p.m.
$5 to attend
Parenting in a Digital World
for families
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
6:00–6:30 p.m.
Free to attend
Participants are welcome to attend more than one webinar.
Speakers
Roxy Etta, Ph.D.
Child Development & Parenting State Specialist
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Division of Extension
Dr. Roxy Etta is an expert in child development, parenting, and digital media. She co-created the Healthy Media Habits series for the Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board and translates research into practical guidance for families, educators, and communities navigating children’s technology use.
Katie Campbell, M.P.A.
Policy Intern
Madison Metropolitan School District
Katie Campbell helped develop new research-based recommendations for the Madison Metropolitan School District’s student cellphone policy while earning her M.P.A. from UW–Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs.
Katie continues to advise MMSD as the district puts its new phone policy into practice.
Webinar Details
Implementing School Phone Bans
Monday, August 31, 2026
12:00–1:15 p.m.
Cost: $10
Designed for district leaders, principals, and school support staff. This session will focus on:
- Policy implementation
- Communication with staff, students, and families
- Building buy-in
- Creating consistency across classrooms and school spaces
- Preparing staff to respond to common challenges
Managing Phone-Free Learning
Monday, August 31, 2026
5:30–6:00 p.m.
Cost: $5
Designed for teachers and instructional staff. This session will focus on:
- Setting clear expectations
- Helping students adjust to phone-free learning
- Supporting attention and engagement
- Responding to phone use in the moment
- Creating consistent classroom routines
Parenting in a Digital World
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
6:00–6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Designed for parents, family members, and caregivers. This session will focus on:
- Household media habits
- Setting realistic technology boundaries
- Talking with children and teens about phone use
- Supporting healthy digital habits
- Building alignment between home and school