503.9R1: STUDENT USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES-REGULATION

The district is committed to providing an inclusive educational environment for students and families. It is valuable for students' educational experience for families to engage in and support their students' educational experience. As part of this commitment, the district will take steps to create opportunities for students to engage in peer-to-peer activities, and ensure that student use of personal electronic devices does not occur during instructional time. 

Every district staff member is empowered to assist in the enforcement of this policy and regulation as appropriate. To avoid distraction during instructional time, personal electronic devices will be placed in a lock box located in individual classrooms. 

If a student is observed using a personal electronic device during instructional time, the employee who observed the student behavior will require the student to turn in the device for safekeeping until the end of the school day. The device will be secured in the building's front office. The district, however, is not responsible for the loss, theft, or destruction of personal electronic devices brought onto school, or district property, or while the student is attending district or school-sponsored events. 

Anytime that a personal electronic device, not issued by the school, is seen in the possession of a student, the device will be taken by that staff member and turned into the office. Students who violate this policy are subject to the following disciplinary measures:

1. First Violation: The phone is turned into the office and the student will serve a 30 minute detention prior to receiving their personal device. Parents will also be notified. 

2. Second Violation: The personal electronic device is turned into the office and the student will serve a 60 minute detention. Parents will meet with administration to develop a plan to address this policy.

3. Third Violation: The personal electronic device is turned into the office and the student will receive a Good Conduct Policy violation. Parents will need to pick up the device. 

4. Any subsequent violations will result in the student turning in their personal electronic device at the beginning of the school day by 8:05 am and will receive it at the end of the day at 3:26 pm.

Any student that refuses to turn over their personal electronic device will be suspended immediately pending a meeting with the parents and administration. 

Note: This regulation is optional, as is the language. All the language of this regulation should be amended to suit the unique needs of your district. Historically, cell phone bans in school buildings have been enforced unequally between classrooms. The language above is intended to create a more uniform enforcement approach by having building administration handle the enforcement of the students in violation of this policy, and minimize disruption within the learning environment. Some districts may choose to require turning in all students' personal electronic devices at the beginning of instructional time each day.  Districts who choose to do so, should proceed only after weighing their own risk of loss of personal electronic devices.