Parents and Guardians,

During the 2025 Alabama legislative session, lawmakers passed ACT #2025-386 also known as the FOCUS Act which was signed into law by Governor Ivey on May 14th. FOCUS is an acronym for Freeing our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens and the law requires full implementation for the 2025-2026 school year. As required by this law, the Cullman City Board of Education recently passed a policy to help ensure compliance with the FOCUS Act (Policy 6.21 Personal Mobile Communication Device).

The FOCUS Act prohibits the use, operation, and possession of wireless communication devices by students in elementary and secondary school buildings and on school grounds during the instructional day, unless specifically permitted for educational purposes, individualized accommodation plans, or emergencies. 

If a wireless communication device is possessed, it must be turned off and stored off of the student's person (e.g., in a purse, book bag, locker, car, or similar storage) during the instructional day.

Wireless communication device is defined as any device that can send or receive messages, make calls, record, photograph, access the internet, or otherwise communicate wirelessly. This includes, but is not limited to: 

● Cell phones 

● Smartwatches 

● Tablets 

● Earbuds or wireless headphones 

● Any similar devices

The Instructional Day is defined as the period of time school is open for an academic day. This is generally from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (or from the first bell to the last bell of a school day). Instructional Day also includes class transitions, lunch, and any other non instructional time during the school day.

The abovementioned exceptions to the FOCUS Act are defined as follows:

This new legislation also requires that schools outline consequences for students who violate the FOCUS Act. In Cullman City Schools, wireless communication devices will be confiscated for the remainder of the day and the student and/or parent/guardian will be required to pick up the device at the end of the instructional day (depending on which offence and the age of the child). In addition to the confiscation of the wireless device, progressive disciplinary action may be assigned at the discretion of the principal or designee. Again, the progressive disciplinary action will depend on which offence and age of the student.

For more information on this new law and local policy, you can refer to the Cullman City School System Code of Conduct (Revised June 2025) or contact an administrator at your child’s school(s).

We thank you in advance for helping us comply with and adjust to this new legislation that will be impacting our schools. 

Sincerely,

Kyle Kallhoff

Superintendent of Education

Freeing our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety (FOCUS) Act. This Alabama law, effective immediately, prohibits the use, operation, and possession of wireless communication devices (WCD) by students in elementary and secondary school buildings and on school grounds during the instructional day, unless specifically permitted for educational purposes, individualized accommodation plans, or emergencies.

Defined as any device that can send or receive messages, make calls, record, photograph, access the internet, or otherwise communicate wirelessly. This includes, but is not limited to: 

● Cell phones 

● Smartwatches 

● Tablets 

● Earbuds or wireless headphones 

● Any similar devices

The Instructional Day is defined as the period of time school is open for an academic day. This is generally from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (or from the first bell to the last bell of a school day). Instructional Day also includes class transitions, lunch, and any other non- instructional time during the school day.

If a wireless communication device is possessed, it must be turned off and stored off of the student's person (e.g., in a purse, bookbag, locker, car, or similar storage) during the instructional day.

Yes…

In Cullman City Schools, wireless communication devices will be confiscated for the remainder of the day and the student and/or parent/guardian will be required to pick up the device at the end of the instructional day (depending on which offence and the age of the child). 

In addition to the confiscation of the wireless device, progressive disciplinary action may be assigned at the discretion of the principal or designee. Again, the progressive disciplinary action will depend on which offence and age of the student.