Phone-Free Schools in Milwaukee: MPS Cell Phone Policy
Milwaukee Public Schools serves about 65,000 students in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s phone-free school law has been in effect since July 1, 2026.
- Location
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Milwaukee County
- Enrollment
- About 65,000 students
- Milwaukee area
Milwaukee Public Schools, the largest school district in Wisconsin, is a public school district headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Milwaukee County), serving approximately 65,000 students across the Milwaukee area. Like every district in Wisconsin, its cell phone rules are shaped by state law — and by how well the policy is actually enforced on each campus.
Does MPS ban cell phones?
Yes. Wisconsin law (AB 2 / 2025 Wisconsin Act 42) requires districts to restrict student personal-device use (use prohibited during instructional time (district-issued devices excepted)), so the district must have a written phone policy.
For the full statute, scope, effective date, and primary sources, see our guide to Wisconsin's phone-free school law, part of our phone-free school laws by state directory.
Enforcing a phone-free day across Milwaukee
Wisconsin leaves the enforcement method to local districts.
Three enforcement models districts choose from
- Physical pouches (e.g., Yondr): a per-student cost that recurs as pouches are lost or damaged, plus daily hand-out and unlocking at every campus.
- District storage (lockers, caddies, classroom bins): low hardware cost, but it relies on staff to police compliance period after period.
- Device-level software (such as LockedIn): locks the phone students already carry during school hours, with no pouches to hand out.
LockedIn, which publishes this page, makes software that locks students' own phones during the school day, with an admin dashboard and no pouches or hardware. Where a state requires phones to be stored away from students, it works alongside that storage rather than replacing it. Compare the options in our phone-free school solutions comparison or the LockedIn vs. Yondr breakdown, and model the math with our pouch-vs-software cost calculator.
What MPS schools can do next
Draft a policy with our free phone-free school policy generator, or contact our team for a quote. Title I schools in Wisconsin may also qualify for subsidized access.
Explore other Wisconsin school districts or browse phone-free school coverage by district.
Frequently asked questions
Does MPS have a cell phone ban?
Yes. Wisconsin law (AB 2 / 2025 Wisconsin Act 42) requires districts to restrict student personal-device use (use prohibited during instructional time (district-issued devices excepted)), so the district must have a written phone policy.
What is Wisconsin's school cell phone law?
Wisconsin Act 42 requires every school board to prohibit student use of phones, tablets, laptops and gaming devices during instructional time. Policies were due July 1, 2026, with a copy filed with DPI by Oct. 1, 2026. See our full Wisconsin guide for the statute, scope, effective date, and exceptions.
How can Milwaukee-area schools enforce a phone-free day?
Schools generally choose physical pouches (like Yondr), district-managed storage, or device-level software like LockedIn that locks the phone students already carry during school hours. Each district picks the method; check MPS's student handbook for the one it uses.
How much does LockedIn cost for a district like MPS?
LockedIn is priced per student, per year, and quoted per school or district based on enrollment and rollout — there are no pouches or hardware to buy and no per-unit replacement costs. Contact us for a written quote and a side-by-side comparison against a pouch program. Qualifying Title I schools may receive subsidized or fully covered access.